Shun’s Kanso line is based on a Zen philosophy meaning Simplicity. For this series, Shun eliminated everything that was not essential to creating an excellent knife. Shun’s requirements for a high-quality knife are: high-quality steel, a razor-sharp edge, perfect balance, and precision cutting control. Kanso blades are made from a highly refined, high-carbon, vanadium Japanese stainless steel capable of taking a razor-sharp edge and holding it longer than other blades. The blades have a Heritage finish designed to hide scratches and give the knife a rustic look that improves with age. The handles are made from tagayasan wood and are contoured to fit comfortably in your hand. These knives have a full tang to give the knives strength and perfect balance. This Kanso starter set has 3 vital pieces of cutlery every cook needs: 8” chef’s knife, 6” utility and a paring knife. You will use the chef’s knife every time you cook (for dicing, chopping, mincing, and slicing), the utility knife for all those in between tasks, and the paring for trimming and peeling. This beautiful set comes in an attractive box suitable for gift giving or storage.