Katsuobushi Bonito Flake Shaver – Kanna Plane Blade | DAIYA

Freshly shaved bonito flakes, at your own table

Freshly shaved katsuobushi (dried bonito) is a different food from the flakes sold in packets. Its aroma fades with time, so shaving it just before you eat makes all the difference — on rice, tofu, vegetables, or to make dashi stock. Daiya's shaver is made so that anyone, beginner or not, can enjoy fresh bonito flakes every day.

Why you'll love it

• Made by a kanna (plane) maker — crafted in Sanjo, Niigata by a workshop that has made carpenters' planes since 1946.
• Professional blade — the same Japanese blade steels used in carpenters' planes: SK carbon steel or Aogami (blue paper) steel.
• Table-ready design — no drawer: the flakes collect in the slim box, so it is about half the size of a traditional shaver and looks good on the dining table.
• Solid wood, seamless — the plane body is air-dried Japanese white oak, carved with chisels; the box is solid beech or walnut with an oil finish.
• Complete set — shaver, wooden mallet for blade adjustment and a hog-bristle brush.
• Size — approx. W 8 × D 24.5 × H 6 cm (3.1 × 9.6 × 2.4 in).

A shaver you will want to use

As Japanese washoku cuisine gains recognition around the world, Daiya created this shaver to bring the rich aroma of freshly shaved bonito to more homes. Its biggest feature is a design arranged for the modern table.

Traditional shavers belong in the kitchen; this one is designed to be used at the table. Removing the drawer made it about half the size, so it is easy to store.

The wooden parts are carved from solid wood and finished with oil. It feels good in the hand and develops character over the years — a tool to use and care for for life.

Made by Daiya (Yamatani Seisakusho), a kanna maker since 1946

Daiya is the brand of Yamatani Seisakusho, based in Sanjo, Niigata — one of Japan's great metalworking towns — and has made kanna, the hand planes used by Japanese carpenters, since 1946. A katsuobushi shaver is built on the same principle as a plane, so their standards for blades and wood are exceptionally high.

The blade is the same SK or Aogami steel used in professional carpenters' planes. The wood is white oak naturally air-dried for several years, just as carpenters use, carved seamlessly with the chisel skills developed through plane making.

Choose your blade: SK or Aogami

• SK carbon steel — high quality at a lower price. Needs sharpening a little more often than Aogami.
• Aogami (blue paper) steel — a hard steel that can be sharpened to hold its edge longer, so it needs less maintenance.

Aogami takes more of the craftsman's time and cuts beautifully, but SK also cuts very well and shaves thin, delicious flakes — you can choose either with confidence.

How to adjust the blade

1. To extend the blade, tap the head of the blade with the mallet. It only needs to protrude about 0.05 mm (the thickness of a sheet of newspaper). If you can clearly see it, it is probably too far out — if the bonito turns to powder, the blade is out too far.
2. Check left and right. If the blade comes out at an angle, tap its side to straighten it.
3. To retract the blade, tap the head of the plane body (the wooden part). A light tap draws the edge back slightly.

How to shave

1. Wipe off the surface mold with a dry cloth (it is a harmless, edible powder that develops during aging).
2. Find the head of the bonito — the narrower end.
3. Hold the bonito at a slight angle and push it firmly and straight across the blade, starting from the head.

Detailed instructions (in Japanese, with illustrations) are included. Katsuobushi blocks are sold separately and can be found at Japanese grocery stores.

What's in the set

• Katsuobushi shaver (plane + box)
• Wooden mallet for blade adjustment
• Hog-bristle brush for collecting flakes

Specifications

• Size: approx. W 8 × D 24.5 × H 6 cm (3.1 × 9.6 × 2.4 in)
• Plane body: Japanese white oak
• Blade: SK carbon steel or Aogami (blue paper) steel
• Box: walnut or beech (with non-slip feet)
• Mallet: white oak handle, walnut head
• Brush: hog bristle; beech and walnut
• Made by: Daiya, Sanjo, Niigata
• Made in: Japan

FAQ

Where can I buy katsuobushi blocks?
Whole dried bonito (katsuobushi) is sold at Japanese grocery stores and online. Choose "sebushi" (back fillet) if you are new to shaving — it is the most common type.

Which blade should I choose?
Both cut very well. Aogami holds its edge longer; SK is more affordable.

Natural wood varies in grain and color, so each piece is unique. Colors may look slightly different depending on your screen.