HOME > FAQ * Regarding damage and other problems * Purchase and retail * Maintenance Q. What help will you provide if the knife is damaged (snaps, rusts or nicks)? Our knives are not guaranteed against damage caused by inappropriate use or negligence. [Examples of inappropriate use or negligence of GLOBAL knives] 1. Dropping the knife on the floor 2. Attempting to cut frozen foodstuffs or extremely hard articles with the knife (twisting the knife from side to side) 3. Using a dishwasher/drier to clean or dry the knife 4. Storing the knife without cleaning and drying it If damage occurs in other cases than these kinds of examples, we will firstly check the damage and the way of usage, so please enquire with YOSHIKIN's Tokyo Office. Q. Where can I find YOSHIKIN distributors or stores dealing in YOSHIKIN knives? (Where can I buy YOSHIKIN knives? / I want to purchase a YOSHIKIN knife.) Each country has a sole distributor, so please enquire with the Tokyo Office for contact information of the sole distributor in your area. Q. Does YOSHIKIN do direct sales on the internet or by mail order? Not at present. Q. I would like to purchase a GLOBAL-PRO knife. Due to limited production capacity, the GLOBAL-PRO range is sold only in Japan. Q. Can I buy any YOSHIKIN product at YOSHIKIN SHOP? Only items retailed in Japan can be purchased at YOSHIKIN SHOP. Q. What should I do to avoid buying fake YOSHIKIN goods? We recommend you to purchase YOSHIKIN products at officially recognized retailers. Please enquire with the Tokyo Office to find out a sole distributor in your area. In addition, we assert that almost all products pretending to be authentic YOSHIKIN products on the eBay (especially eBay UK) website are fake. "GLOBAL Chef" and "GLOBAL Professional" products are not YOSHIKIN products. YOSHIKIN does not sell a combination of knives and knife roll as a set. Q. What countermeasures are you taking against fake YOSHIKIN goods? We constantly watch items appearing on eBay, and when a fake item is discovered, we contact eBay and call for the item's removal through our lawyers. Q. I'm sharpening my knife with a knife sharpener, but I can't get the original keen edge on my knife. Knife sharpeners are very simple devices, and are gradually becoming less and less effective on the blade. To restore the knife's edge to its original keenness, sharpening the knife with a whetstone is the best way. Please purchase a whetstone and try this method. Q. How do I sharpen a knife with a whetstone? It is the best to sharpen YOSHIKIN knives with a medium-grit whetstone of #1000-grit or higher. Q. Please tell me how I can sharpen the G-9 (bread cutting, serrated) and GS-13 (notched blade) knives. Knife sharpeners cannot be used as they will damage the blade. Sharpen the side opposite to the serrated edge for the G-9, and the side opposite to the notched edge for the GS-13. Q. Do stainless steel knives also rust? Stainless steel used for knives is not completely rust-proof; however it does not rust easily. Keeping knives in the dirty and damp condition should be strictly avoided. Q. What is the best way to store these knives? If all dirt and moisture are removed from the knives, they should not rust. We recommend you to store them in a place that is as dry as possible.