Frequently Asked Questions
よくあるご質問
HOW ARE JAPANESE KNIVES DIFFERENT TO WESTERN KNIVES?
Japanese knives draw from centuries of tradition and know-how in sculpting steel into beautifully sharp objects. In general, Japanese knives are lighter, better balanced and stay sharper longer than their European or American-made counterparts. Japanese steels are heat treated to a far higher level of hardness which results in superior edge retention.
Hand-forged knives are also hammered into thinner blade profiles, which allow for more precision and control when doing finer or more detailed knife work. Because of the harder steels, Japanese knives can be sharpened to a much finer angle, generally between 12-15 degrees, at the cutting edge, which contribute to a knife that cleanly slices through ingredients with ease.
Bolsters on European knives often extend from the top of the handle to the bottom heel of the blade, making them difficult to sharpen. Hinoki Knives have hyper-refined bolster plates that make sharpening them seamless. Once you've used a Japanese knife you will notice the difference immediately and never go back.
Hand-forged knives are also hammered into thinner blade profiles, which allow for more precision and control when doing finer or more detailed knife work. Because of the harder steels, Japanese knives can be sharpened to a much finer angle, generally between 12-15 degrees, at the cutting edge, which contribute to a knife that cleanly slices through ingredients with ease.
Bolsters on European knives often extend from the top of the handle to the bottom heel of the blade, making them difficult to sharpen. Hinoki Knives have hyper-refined bolster plates that make sharpening them seamless. Once you've used a Japanese knife you will notice the difference immediately and never go back.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A PRODUCT?
You can learn all about our products on their individual product pages. If you have any other questions or thoughts, let us know by emailing service@hinoki.shop or calling; +61 (0) 3 9088 2051, Monday to Sunday, 7:00am to 8:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.
DO YOU SHIP INTERNATIONALLY?
Yes, we ship to over 200 countries. Please check our Delivery page for more information.
IS THERE A NUMBER I CAN CALL?
Yes, please call us on; +61 (0) 3 9088 2051, Monday to Sunday, 7:00am to 8:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MY ORDER, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Drop us an email at service@hinoki.shop or give us a ring at +61 (0) 3 9088 2051. We’re available 7:00am to 8:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time and at your service to answer questions regarding existing orders, order modifications, shipping and returns related enquiries and anything else you can cook up.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SHARPEN MY KNIFE?
There is no universal answer to this question. If you cook every day, Hinoki recommends sharpening your Black Carbon 1 blade every 6 - 7 weeks. If you cook less frequently, but at least three to four times per week, we recommend sharpening your blade every 2 - 3 months. Hinoki advocates the use of either Japanese sharpening stones with a grit of between #1000 to #1200, a ceramic honing rod or utilising the Renewal Sharpening Service.
I'M WORRIED CARBON STEEL MAY RUST, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE?
Fear not, with minimal effort you can enjoy the many benefits carbon steel brings to the cooking experience, be it the unrivalled hardness, supreme sharpness and its ability to stay sharper for longer. Please refer to our complete guide on maintaining carbon steel, here.
MY ORDER WAS CHARGED IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS, WHY?
Because Hinoki is based in Australia, we naturally operate in Australian Dollars and only have the ability to accept purchases in this currency. As a courtesy to our international clientele we offer the ability to browse www.hinoki.shop in Japanese Yen, Euro, Pound Sterling and US dollars — please note, your order will be converted and charged in AUD upon checkout.
ARE HINOKI KNIVES SUITABLE FOR LEFT HANDED USERS TOO?
Yes, our blades feature double or dual-bevels, meaning they employ a 50/50 symmetrical cutting angle/edge on both sides of the blades body for ease of use, no matter if your left or right handed. Our handles are also ergonomically designed, taking inspiration from our favourite drawing pencil at its top and feature a curved underbelly that grips comfortably, for both left and right handed, users at its bottom.
ARE HINOKI PRODUCTS SUSTAINABLY MADE?
Hinoki insists on sourcing only new hardwoods — never recycled wood, from ethically responsible sawmills with whom we have established relationships and aligned views on sustainable forestry. The wood varieties we use take hundreds of years to fully grow and mature, out of respect for this we believe it is our responsibility to create only the finest and long-lasting products from them.
All of our scrap and waste steel is collected and returned to Hinoki’s steel supplier for re-use in new steel production. The steel and water sludge created during the hardening, grinding and polishing processes is transformed through a process where steel remnants are filtered out of the water sludge and then pressed and roasted into bars that can again be used by our steel supplier for future production.
We source all of our packaging materials from only the most reputable suppliers. The papers we use for our signature boxes and printed matter are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This means that they are made with, or contain, pulp that comes from FSC well-managed forests, and follows a certified chain of custody that tracks the timber through every stage in the supply chain from the forest to the final user.
All of our scrap and waste steel is collected and returned to Hinoki’s steel supplier for re-use in new steel production. The steel and water sludge created during the hardening, grinding and polishing processes is transformed through a process where steel remnants are filtered out of the water sludge and then pressed and roasted into bars that can again be used by our steel supplier for future production.
We source all of our packaging materials from only the most reputable suppliers. The papers we use for our signature boxes and printed matter are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This means that they are made with, or contain, pulp that comes from FSC well-managed forests, and follows a certified chain of custody that tracks the timber through every stage in the supply chain from the forest to the final user.
WHERE ARE HINOKI KNIVES MADE?
Each Hinoki Blade is crafted by our collective of Master Bladesmiths who are situated in Sakai, Osaka — a locality who’s rich experience in The Art of Japanese Bladesmithing dates back centuries to the time of the samurai and is widely considered the pre-eminent manufacturing hub of the finest knives in all of Japan.
Australia is where our Master Woodworkers meticulously hand carve each wooden handle, it is where our leather goods are stitched and our protective Companion oils composed.
Australia is where our Master Woodworkers meticulously hand carve each wooden handle, it is where our leather goods are stitched and our protective Companion oils composed.
WHAT WARRANTY DOES HINOKI OFFER ON ITS PRODUCTS?
Hinoki is pleased to extend The Renewal Service — a guarantee of lifetime service and maintenance on each object and material in the essential range.
In addition to this all products are guaranteed by The Hinoki Lifetime Guarantee. Hinoki guarantees its knife products against manufacturing defects on all material components provided they are properly used and cared for. The Lifetime Guarantee is non-transferable and does not cover normal signs of wear and tear, naturally occurring patina, rust, damage or breakage as the result of the users poor maintenance, nor loss or theft. If the exact product is not available for replacement or repair, a knife of equal value or similar function and style to the original will be supplied to the client — free of charge.
In addition to this all products are guaranteed by The Hinoki Lifetime Guarantee. Hinoki guarantees its knife products against manufacturing defects on all material components provided they are properly used and cared for. The Lifetime Guarantee is non-transferable and does not cover normal signs of wear and tear, naturally occurring patina, rust, damage or breakage as the result of the users poor maintenance, nor loss or theft. If the exact product is not available for replacement or repair, a knife of equal value or similar function and style to the original will be supplied to the client — free of charge.
WHAT IS YOUR RETURNS POLICY?
We sincerely hope you are delighted with your Hinoki purchase, however if you are not satisfied you may return your order for a refund or exchange within 14 calendar days of purchase, for any reason.
Should you wish to make a return, please reach out to service@hinoki.shop with your order number and the products you'd like to exchange or return, and we'll take care of the rest.
Should you wish to make a return, please reach out to service@hinoki.shop with your order number and the products you'd like to exchange or return, and we'll take care of the rest.
WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?
We accept: Credit and debit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and PayPal.
All transactions on this site are processed using Shopify Payments. This is an online payment gateway that encrypts your card details in a secure, hosted environment.
All transactions on this site are processed using Shopify Payments. This is an online payment gateway that encrypts your card details in a secure, hosted environment.