A Nakiri knife, when translated, literally means "vegetable chopper." Designed for precise chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing, the Nakiri knife originated in centuries-old Japan, where the predominant diet consisted of seafood, rice, and vegetables.

The Santoku is a general-purpose kitchen knife similar to the chef's knife. The blade of the Santoku is not as curved as a chef's knife, resulting in more of a chopping motion instead of a rocking motion. It performs well at slicing, dicing, and mincing.

Similar to the Santoku knife, or a cleaver, the Nakiri performs tasks in a chopping motion. Additionally, the blade tip is not sharp, making it safer to use than many other kitchen knife styles.