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Out of Syokami’s whole catalog, this is the set with the most reviews behind it: the Modern Japanese Knife Block Set, 14 pieces, at $129.99 (down from $159.99), holding a 98% positive rating across 41 reviews. I went through the spec sheet and the review pattern to see if that score holds up.
What’s in the box
Fourteen pieces, and they’re not padded out with filler. The set includes an 8-inch chef knife, an 8-inch carving knife, an 8-inch bread knife, a 7-inch santoku, a 5-inch utility knife, six 5-inch steak knives, kitchen shears, a sharpening steel, and the magnetic knife holder itself.
That’s a genuinely complete kitchen lineup. Most “starter” block sets skip the bread knife or the sharpening steel; this one doesn’t.
- Blade material: high-carbon stainless steel, forged construction
- Block type: magnetic knife holder with a downward center of gravity, designed so the block doesn’t tip when knives are removed
- Colors: Red and Black
- Weight: about 4.67 kg for the full set
- Manufacturing: Syokami describes a 56-step production process per knife
What buyers are actually saying
A 98% positive rating across 41 reviews is a strong number, and it lines up with what I found in independent coverage of this same style of set. One third-party review aggregator scored it at 95% positive after weighing feedback across dozens of boxed knife sets, calling out the blades as “sturdy, sharp and durable” (94% agreement) and the ergonomic dot-hole handles as reducing hand fatigue during longer cutting sessions (93% agreement).
The same review noted the knives handled bone, thick meats, dense vegetables, and nuts without much effort, which tracks with the 56+ Rockwell hardness Syokami lists for the steel.
Care and upkeep
High-carbon stainless steel needs hand-washing, not the dishwasher. The included sharpening steel is meant for regular honing between uses, not full resharpening.
I cover the full wash, dry, and storage routine in my Syokami care guide, which applies to every knife in this set.
How it compares
Inside Syokami’s own catalog, this set sits in the middle. The Foldable Magnetic Block Set ($108.99) is a cheaper 7-piece option for smaller kitchens, while the Kitchen Knife Set of 14 with a 360°-rotatable block ($199.99) is the step up for buyers who want a swiveling display. This 14-piece Modern set is the balance point: full piece count, mid-range price, highest review count of the three.
Against pricier “Japanese-style” competitors, the trade-off is similar to what I found comparing the brand as a whole. Details are in Syokami vs Kamikoto.
Should you buy it
If you want one set that covers chef, carving, bread, santoku, utility, and steak knives without buying pieces separately, this is the easiest pick in Syokami’s lineup. The 98% approval rating across a real review count, backed by a lifetime warranty and 90-day return window, makes it a low-risk way to try the brand.
For how those warranty and return terms actually work, see my returns and warranty guide. If you’re deciding between this set and a smaller one, my how-to-choose guide walks through the full lineup.
Keep reading: my full Syokami brand review, where to buy Syokami authentically, and how to care for your Syokami knives.