Storing Japanese Kitchen Knives: Guards, Blocks and Magnetic Holders

Store a Japanese kitchen knife clean, fully dry and separated from other utensils, with its edge protected. A fitted sheath, drawer organizer, suitable block or purpose-made magnetic holder can each provide a workable home. Choose around your actual knives and kitchen layout rather than assuming one storage type is always best. The important checks are fit, secure support and room to put the knife away without knocking or scraping its edge.

Dry the knife before choosing where it goes

Storage begins after cleaning. Shun's use and care guidance calls for hand washing and prompt, thorough drying. It recommends a wooden block, drawer tray, sheath or knife case, and warns against storing knives uncovered in a drawer. A cover or block does not remove the need to dry the blade first.

Check the handle and the area where it meets the blade as well as the broad sides. Put the knife away only when it and its storage space are dry. For the fuller cleaning and oiling routine, use our Japanese knife care guide. This is particularly useful when several people share the washing-up and might otherwise put a damp knife straight into its holder.

Can Japanese knives go in a drawer?

Yes, with protection and a place of their own. A knife tray or suitable guards can keep knives apart from loose cutlery. Measure the drawer's usable length, width and height before buying an insert, then check the dimensions of the knives it must hold. Allow space for the handle as well as the blade; a long knife can fit the tray yet interfere with the drawer closing.

A sheath must fit the particular knife. Shun's Large Universal Saya guidance is a useful example: despite the name, the maker limits compatibility to listed models because thickness and shape vary. It also notes that sharpening can change the fit. Do not buy a cover solely because its advertised length matches your blade.

Follow the cover's instructions, including any retaining pin or closure. Check that the edge and tip are protected and the knife remains secure during ordinary handling. If a sheath no longer fits correctly, ask the maker about a replacement rather than forcing the blade into it.

What makes a knife block suitable?

A block can keep regularly used knives together on the counter, but its slots must suit their dimensions. Check blade height and thickness, not just the number of openings. A broad nakiri may need a different slot from a narrow slicing knife of similar length. Leave enough clearance above or in front of the block to remove a knife comfortably beneath cupboards.

Follow the holder's instructions for insertion and orientation. There is no single “blade up or down” rule that describes every angled block, horizontal tray and other storage design. Do not force a knife into an unsuitable slot or drag its cutting edge against an opening. Keep the block clean and dry according to its maker's directions.

Are magnetic knife holders an option?

They can be. MIYABI's care instructions list magnetic strips alongside blocks and sheaths as storage options that protect the cutting edge from other utensils. That supports using a suitable holder; it does not establish that any magnet, mounting arrangement or position will work for every knife.

Check the holder's supported knife sizes and installation method. For example, WÜSTHOF's 12-inch magnetic holder guidance specifies brackets and screws secured to the wall. Do not substitute an improvised attachment without the maker's approval. The mounting must suit the surface and the holder, not just look secure when empty.

Leave room between knives so you can grasp a handle without knocking its neighbor. Choose a position away from routine splashes and accidental contact, and follow the holder's directions for placing and removing blades. A display may free counter space, but exposed knives also make the location and household access important.

Choose a system that fits your everyday routine

For two knives, compatible guards and an organized drawer may be enough. A block may suit an available counter corner; a wall holder needs an appropriate mounting location. Before buying more storage, inventory the knives you actually use. Our small-kitchen knife comparison helps you consider how your main knife fits the space.

For a knife used only occasionally, check its maker's longer-term storage directions as well. Our carbon versus stainless steel guide explains why material and construction affect care. A protective holder is useful, but it is not a substitute for the drying and maintenance that the particular blade needs.