Frequently Asked Questions

Orders leave a US warehouse within 1–3 business days and arrive 3–6 business days later, so 5–9 business days in total (weekends and US holidays not included). These are estimates; the carrier's tracking gives the exact date.

Yes. Standard shipping is free on every order, with no minimum.

Within the contiguous United States (the 48 states and Washington, DC). We don't ship to Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, APO/FPO addresses or outside the US yet.

As soon as your order ships, you get an email with a tracking number from UPS, USPS or FedEx.

Take photos of the package and the product, then email us at info@hochodo.com within 48 hours of delivery with your order number. We'll replace the item or refund it at our cost.

Yes. You have 30 days from delivery to return an item that is unused, clean and in its original packaging.

Email us at info@hochodo.com with your order number. We'll reply with your return instructions. Our default return address is Hochodo Returns, Owam Ventures LLC, 760 Route 46 West, Suite 1102, Parsippany, NJ 07054, United States; for some orders, your instructions will give the address of the US warehouse that shipped your order instead.

Return shipping is paid by the customer, unless the item arrived damaged or defective. In that case it's on us.

Within 14 days of receiving and checking your return, to your original payment method.

The 3-piece set (chef, santoku, paring) covers most everyday cooking for one to four people. The 5-piece adds a slicer and a small santoku for people who cook most nights. Buying a first good knife? Start with the Starter Gift Set. Our set guide compares them side by side.

In Yangjiang, China. They are Japanese-style knives: the blade shapes and thin edges come from Japanese kitchen knives. Yangjiang is a city known for knife making, and we state the origin on every product page.

The blades are layered Damascus steel around a harder core steel, as stated by the manufacturer. Each product page lists the steel, number of layers and hardness exactly as the maker gives them, nothing added.

VG10 is a stainless steel known for holding a fine edge. On most of our knives it forms the core of the blade, the part that does the cutting. Our santoku has an AUS-10 core, and our cleaver, utility knife and compact 7.6-inch chef knife a 90Cr18MoV core: both are hard stainless steels. Each product page names its core steel.

Some of our knives carry their maker's mark, etched on one side of the blade.

No. Heat, detergent and rattling dull the edge and can damage the handle. Wash by hand, dry right away.

Product pages describe exactly what you receive. Some images are styled scenes; what ships is the product, contents and specifications listed on the page.

Hone with a ceramic rod before you cook and sharpen on a whetstone every few months, depending on use. Our sharpening guide shows you how.

Wood, ideally end grain, or a good plastic board. Avoid glass, stone, marble and ceramic: they dull an edge in a few cuts.

No. Hard, thin edges can chip on bone and frozen food. Use a cleaver for bones and let frozen food thaw first.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay (with installments on eligible orders). Payments are processed securely by Shopify Payments.

Yes, as long as it hasn't shipped. Email us at info@hochodo.com as soon as possible. Once it has shipped, use the return process.

Prices are in US dollars. Where sales tax applies, it is calculated and shown at checkout before you pay.

By email at info@hochodo.com or through our contact form. We reply Monday–Friday, 9 am–6 pm ET, within 1–2 business days.