Designed by blacksmith Toru Yamashita in Japan’s Kochi-prefecture, these high-carbon steel knives are designed in the form of five different whales, the blades forming the baleen mouth of each species. The Kujira blades were originally made for children as a tool for sharpening pencils or cutting paper, but have since been marketed abroad as a general-purpose utility or chef knife.

At about $50 each, the knives aren’t cheap, but it appears the whale shape is strangely perfect for small hands, and with the right care, they would probably last a lifetime. Some of the models are available through Hand-Eye Supply, but it looks like a few are sold by Yoshihiro Cutlery on Amazon.