The name ORIGINAL was chosen because the knives in this series feature unique, distinctive characteristics — a rounded tip and an uncommon small hole in the blade. These interesting design choices were inspired by an accidental event and the professional kitchen experience of MAC’s founder, Tatsuo Kobayashi. One day, while working in a restaurant, the knife he was using fell to the floor and broke its tip. When he tried to repair it, he ground the broken tip into a curved shape — and that moment marked the beginning of the ORIGINAL series.

One of the best ways to prevent kitchen accidents when using knives is to use each knife for its intended purpose. By choosing the small CP paring knife, you can further enhance safety and comfort during work thanks to its rounded tip. The ten-centimeter, thin, extremely sharp — yet safe — blade makes it easy to peel vegetables and fruits quickly and precisely, except for thicker-skinned fruits like citrus, for which the PK-25 knife from the CHEF series is recommended. Increased speed improves efficiency and shortens preparation time, and the knife remains light and easy to handle. Another advantage is the small hole near the tip, designed for hanging the knife so it can always be kept within sight. Restaurant workers who use this knife to peel large quantities of vegetables praise its original design features and confirm that even after many hours of repetitive peeling motions, their hands do not feel strained. A paring knife is essential in every kitchen, but as an alternative, we also offer the PE-01 peeler — equally comfortable to use. The only factor that determines the choice between the two is personal preference.

Each MAC knife is hand-ground by skilled craftsmen to maintain its exceptional sharpness. We encourage you to read our guide on how to sharpen Japanese knives according to the techniques of traditional Japanese masters.