Talk to chefs about the knives they love and they’ll tell you about Japanese ones. Usually, they’re talking specifically about Korin. The New York store that launched a cult fandom for ...

There are also knives that walk the line between Western and Japanese knives, like $198 Korin's Nickel Damascus (pictured above), which is an option if you're looking for the best of both.

Ultra-sharp and precise, the best Japanese knives are known for their premium craftsmanship. Compared to their Western or German-style counterparts, Japanese blades are lighter, thinner and harder ...

Korin stocks well over 500 models of knives, imported from Japan and forged in centuries-old family factories. See the profile of this NYC store at 57 Warren St. in Manhattan.

Ms. Kawano is the founder and owner of Korin Inc., an importer of knives, kitchen tools and tableware from Japan that has become a place of pilgrimage for restaurateurs since opening in 1982.