Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife vs Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife
Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife (#2, best premium) vs Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife (#3): in our Chef's Knives scoring the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife totals 9.5/10 and the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife 9.4/10.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife | Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $173 | $189 |
| Steel | SG2 micro-carbide (63 HRC) | VG-MAX core, 68-layer Damascus |
| Blade | 8 inches | 8 inches |
| Edge | 9.5° per side | 16° per side |
| Layers | 101 Damascus | — |
| Handle | Pakkawood D-shape | Pakkawood D-shape |
| Made In | — | Seki, Japan |
How they differ in real use
Built from our chefs knives scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife and the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife made our Top 5 Chef's Knives, at #2 (best premium) and #3. Japanese SG2 steel with stunning Damascus pattern. Razor sharp 9.5° edge meets German engineering. VG-MAX steel with 68 layers of Damascus cladding — razor-sharp 16° edge with stunning aesthetics. Handcrafted in Seki, Japan.
We score chef's knives on Sharpness (30%), Balance (25%), Build Quality (25%), Handle Comfort (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife totals 9.5 out of 10 and the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife 9.4. The widest gap is Handle Comfort, where the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife scores 10 against 9 for the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife — ergonomics. Value also separates them: 8 for the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife versus 7 for the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Steel — SG2 micro-carbide (63 HRC) on the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife versus VG-MAX core, 68-layer Damascus on the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife; Edge — 9.5° per side on the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife versus 16° per side on the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife. They match on Blade and Handle.
Pricing as of February 1, 2026: $173 for the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife and $189 for the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife, a $16 difference in the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife's favor. Owners praise the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife for japanese SG2 steel (harder) and stunning Damascus pattern; the most common complaint is very expensive. Owners praise the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife for vG-MAX steel core (harder than VG-10) and 68-layer Damascus cladding; the most common complaint is requires careful use.
Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife
- Japanese SG2 steel (harder)
- Stunning Damascus pattern
- Razor sharp 9.5° edge
- Ice-hardened (Cryodur)
- Very expensive
- Requires careful use
- Harder steel can chip
Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife
- VG-MAX steel core (harder than VG-10)
- 68-layer Damascus cladding
- Razor-sharp 16° edge
- D-shaped Pakkawood handle
- Requires careful use
- Harder steel can chip
- Hand wash only
Which should you buy?
The Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife is the better fit for precision cutting and japanese knife enthusiasts — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Handle Comfort and Sharpness. The Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife is the better fit for japanese knife enthusiasts and precision cutting, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. Since the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife is both the higher scorer and $16 cheaper, the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife only makes sense for japanese knife enthusiasts. The Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife is a poor fit for heavy-duty cutting; the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife is a poor fit for heavy chopping tasks.
Choose the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife if
- Precision cutting
- Japanese knife enthusiasts
- Those wanting both worlds
Skip it if
- Heavy-duty cutting
- Dishwasher users
Choose the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife if
- Japanese knife enthusiasts
- Precision cutting
- Those wanting beautiful craftsmanship
Skip it if
- Heavy chopping tasks
- Dishwasher users
Common questions
Is the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife better than the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife?
In our Chef's Knives ranking the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife scores higher overall, 9.5 to 9.4, with the biggest advantage in Handle Comfort. The Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife cost than the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife?
$16 more as of February 1, 2026: $189 for the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife against $173 for the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife and the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife?
The headline spec difference is Steel: SG2 micro-carbide (63 HRC) on the Miyabi Kaizen II 8-Inch Gyutoh Chef's Knife versus VG-MAX core, 68-layer Damascus on the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife. In use, the gap that matters most is Handle Comfort (10 vs 9 in our scoring): ergonomics.