Cutting Boards

A good quality knife is made from premium steel, the blacksmith will have hardened the steel to maximize its edge retention and sharpness, but no matter how talented and skilled the blacksmith the knife will still dull over time and eventually you will need to sharpen your knives using a whetstones.

Good quality cutting boards will help, synthetic cutting boards like those produced by Hasegawa and Asahi are some of the best options with regard to the edge of your knives, but a premium wooden cutting boards, while not as good for your cutting edge are also a reasonable and beautiful option. You should avoid cheap plastic, bamboo and glass cutting boards at all costs.