Best Higonokami Knife: 3 Japanese Folding Pocket Knives by Steel and Size

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How this article was made: Research-based comparison. It draws on published information from makers, retailers, and reference sources, not on hands-on testing.

For readers in the UK and Europe

• Higonokami Pocket Knife Black KURO-UCHI 65mm — €25.00 at SharpEdge (about $28; US total, est. ~$49): SK-5 steel, blade 65mm
• Higonokami Kengata Pocket Knife 75mm — €75.00 at SharpEdge (about $84; US total, est. ~$119): Shirogami #2 steel, tanto-style tip, which SharpEdge calls kengata, blade 75mm

Both are made by Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site. Both have shorter blades than the 100mm and 120mm models above: SharpEdge gives blade lengths of 65mm and 75mm, while the open length minus the closed length on the Amazon listings is 80mm and 100mm.

The three types in this guide are also on Amazon.de: SK steel, 120mm, black handle, Aogami, 100mm, brass handle and Aogami, 120mm, brass handle. No higonokami listing was found on Amazon UK.

Prices and stock checked October 19, 2026. SharpEdge prices are in euros, converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1206 USD on October 9, 2026; the US total is an estimate that includes shipping and the 25% tariff.

The Short Answer: Which Higonokami to Buy

For a first higonokami, this guide recommends the SK steel 120mm model, because it is the lowest-priced of the three and in stock; choose an Aogami (blue paper steel) model if you want the traditional brass handle. All three are made by Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site, which also says it is now the only manufacturer allowed to use the Higonokami name.

Prices are on Amazon.com, checked on October 19, 2026; all three ship from Amazon. The closed length is the length of the handle, the size the maker uses to name each model. For readers in the UK and Europe, the box at the top lists the same three types on Amazon.de.

What a Higonokami Is

A higonokami is a simple Japanese folding knife: a blade, a folded metal handle and one rivet, with no lock. You open it by pressing the lever on the back of the blade, which the maker calls the chikiri: its construction page says to push the chikiri with your thumb to open the blade. The SK steel listing on Amazon describes the knife as non-locking, and Serai, a Shogakukan magazine, explains that you keep your thumb on the chikiri while cutting.

• The maker. Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho gives its address in Miki City, Hyogo, and its founding as 1894. Its history page says it is now the only manufacturer that can use the Higonokami trademark, and the Kobe Shimbun reported in 2020 that it is the only maker of the knife left in Japan
• The name. The maker’s history says the folding design with the chikiri dates from around 1894, and that it was named after Higo province (today’s Kumamoto), where many of its customers were
• The blade. The maker describes a warikomi (sandwich) construction, with hard steel enclosed in soft iron, and a double-edged V-shaped blade that can be used from either side, so it suits left- and right-handed users

SK Steel or Aogami (Blue Paper Steel)

The maker offers the higonokami in several steels; the two most common on Amazon.com are SK steel and Aogami. Both are sandwich (warikomi) blades on the maker’s pages for the Aogami and SK steel models.

• SK steel: the Amazon listing describes it as inexpensive with good hardness, and lists the blade material as carbon steel
• Aogami (blue paper steel): the Amazon listings say it has very high wear resistance and that its edge holding is outstanding

Aogami is a carbon steel; Japanese Knife Steel Types Explained compares it with other knife steels. Carbon steel can rust if it is left wet, so dry the blade after use; How to Store and Maintain a Japanese Knife covers rust prevention.

Which Size: 90mm, 100mm or 120mm

The maker names each model by the length of its closed handle, not the blade. Its Aogami warikomi page lists three handle lengths: 120mm, 100mm and 90mm. The site gives the thickness of each blade but not its length.

The Amazon listings give the open length: about 180mm for the 100mm model and about 220mm for the 120mm models. For a sense of scale beside kitchen knives, see Japanese Knife Blade Length Guide.

The Three Picks

For the Lowest Price: Higonokami Folding Knife – SK Steel 120mm Black

Higonokami Folding Knife – SK Steel 120mm Black — $23.99 at Amazon.com, sold by Japan Depot and shipped from Amazon.

The listing gives a closed length of 120mm, an open length of 220mm and a blade 2.2 to 2.8mm thick, with SK steel and a black steel handle. It is the pick in this guide for a first higonokami, because it is the lowest-priced of the three and was in stock when checked.

Japan Check
Made by: Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site
Steel: SK steel, warikomi (per the maker)
Closed Length: 120mm
Edge: Double-edged V (per the maker)
Sold by: Japan Depot on Amazon.com (ships from Amazon)
Checked Against: higonokami.jp (models, construction), amazon.com (price, stock, seller)
Last Checked: 2026-10-19

For the Traditional Brass Handle: Higonokami Folding Knife – Blue Paper Steel 100mm

Higonokami Folding Knife – Blue Paper Steel 100mm — $34.00 at Amazon.com, sold by LCB International and shipped from Amazon; the listing showed only 4 left when checked.

The listing gives a closed length of 100mm, an open length of 180mm and a blade about 3mm thick, with Aogami (blue paper steel) and a brass handle. It is the pick here for the classic brass higonokami, because it is the lowest-priced brass model of the three.

Japan Check
Made by: Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site
Steel: Aogami (blue paper steel), warikomi (per the maker)
Closed Length: 100mm
Edge: Double-edged V (per the maker)
Sold by: LCB International on Amazon.com (ships from Amazon)
Checked Against: higonokami.jp (models, construction), amazon.com (price, stock, seller)
Last Checked: 2026-10-19

For the Largest Brass Model: Higonokami Folding Knife – Blue Paper Steel 120mm

Higonokami Folding Knife – Blue Paper Steel 120mm — $49.70 at Amazon.com, sold by Japan Depot and shipped from Amazon.

The listing gives a closed length of 120mm, an open length of 220mm and a blade about 3mm thick, with Aogami (blue paper steel) and a brass handle. It is the pick here if you want the brass model in the largest of the three sizes.

Japan Check
Made by: Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site
Steel: Aogami (blue paper steel), warikomi (per the maker)
Closed Length: 120mm
Edge: Double-edged V (per the maker)
Sold by: Japan Depot on Amazon.com (ships from Amazon)
Checked Against: higonokami.jp (models, construction), amazon.com (price, stock, seller)
Last Checked: 2026-10-19

Carrying and Caring for a Higonokami

Rules on carrying a knife differ from country to country. Check your local laws before carrying.

• The pivot: the maker’s maintenance page explains that the tightness of the rivet varies because each knife is made by hand, and how to adjust it
• Sharpening: the blade is double-edged, so it is sharpened on both sides. How to Sharpen a Japanese Knife with a Whetstone goes through the steps, and Single Bevel vs Double Bevel explains the difference between the two grinds
• Rust: dry the blade after use, as with any carbon-steel blade

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a higonokami knife?

A Japanese folding knife with a folded metal handle, one rivet and no lock. You open it by pressing the lever on the back of the blade, called the chikiri, with your thumb. It is made by Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site.

Does a higonokami lock open?

No. The SK steel listing on Amazon describes the knife as non-locking, and Serai, a Shogakukan magazine, explains that you keep your thumb on the chikiri while cutting.

Who makes the higonokami?

Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho of Miki, Hyogo. The higonokami is made by Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho in Miki, Hyogo, according to the maker’s site, which also says it is now the only manufacturer allowed to use the Higonokami name. The Amazon listings in this guide give the brand as Higo no Kami and the maker as Nagao Seisakusho.

Should I choose SK steel or Aogami?

SK steel is the lower-priced option: its listing describes it as inexpensive with good hardness. The Aogami (blue paper steel) listings say it has very high wear resistance and outstanding edge holding. Both are carbon steels, so dry the blade after use.

Can I carry a higonokami?

Rules on carrying a knife differ from country to country. Check your local laws before carrying.

Looking at Japanese kitchen knives as well? Best Japanese Knife Brands sets out how the main makers differ.

Product images are illustrative renderings based on retailer product photos.