The Nakiri style of Japanese knife is a classic design that has a straight, symmetrical edge and large face that is great for slicing, dicing, and chopping vegetables. Its main feature is its straight blade, which encourages a specific style of cutting. And while it look similar in some ways, it is not to be mistaken for a cleaver - two very different knives with different purposes.The Nakiri style knife is designed to sit flat on the board, unlike curved blades - like the Santoku - that allows for a rocking motion. The blade is typically around 6" in length with a squared-off tip to give the user more control over the movement of the knife. The Nakiri also has a thinner blade than other knife styles and should not be used on tough or hard cuts, like meat or thick, very dense vegetables.