The Japanese mandoline — called a benriner (ベンリナー) after the most famous brand — is a handheld vegetable slicer that produces restaurant-quality uniform cuts. It differs significantly from Western box-style mandolines.

What Makes It Different

Japanese mandolines are:

  • Flat — A single flat plane with adjustable blade
  • Thin — Produces paper-thin slices (down to 0.5mm)
  • Simple — No folding, no locking mechanisms, no suction feet
  • Inexpensive — A quality Benriner costs ¥2,000–3,000 ($15–25)

The Classic: Benriner S-1

The Benriner S-1 is the standard Japanese mandoline found in home kitchens and many professional kitchens.

  • Blade: Adjustable to 4 thickness settings (thin → medium → thick → very thick)
  • Width: 12cm (standard for most vegetables)
  • Material: Stainless steel blade, ABS plastic body
  • Extras: Includes kannonuki (flower-shaped cutter) for decorative cuts

Safety

Japanese mandolines are dangerously sharp. The single flat blade is exposed and fixed. Always use the included hand guard (yokogake). Without it, a single slip removes the skin from your fingertips.

Safety tips:

  • Always use the hand guard — Never feed vegetables bare-handed
  • Stick-based vegetables (carrots, daikon): Use the guard
  • Round vegetables (onions, potatoes): Cut in half to create a flat surface
  • Never slice towards your hand or body

Essential Cuts

  • Thin rounds — Carrots, cucumber, radish. Setting: thinnest.
  • Julienne — First slice thin planks, stack, slice again. Or use the Benriner’s julienne attachment
  • Paper-thin cabbage — For fried rice or okonomiyaki topping
  • Katsuobushi finish — The mandoline can also be used to shave dense ingredients

Care

  • Rinse immediately after use (acidic vegetables dull the blade)
  • Dry thoroughly — the blade is stainless but the body can warp in high heat (not dishwasher safe)
  • Store with the hand guard over the blade
  • Replace the blade when it starts tearing instead of slicing (every 2–3 years for home use)

Sourcing: Benriner is a registered trademark of Bito Engineering Co., Ltd. (bitocorp.co.jp). Safety guidelines follow Japanese consumer product safety standards.