Five shiitake mushrooms with decorative star-shaped cuts on their caps are arranged on a light wooden surface.

Have you ever seen a beautiful flower pattern cut into shiitake mushrooms in traditional Japanese foods like hot pots, simmered dishes, and noodle soups? Kazarikiri is a type of Japanese cutting technique that can quickly elevate the presentation of your home-cooked dishes. Let me show you How to Make a Flower Pattern on Shiitake Mushroom Caps with my easy tutorial.

See how I use these shiitake mushrooms in my Sukiyaki, Shabu Shabu, and Yosenabe recipes!

A person uses a knife to carve a decorative star pattern into the cap of a shiitake mushroom on a wooden cutting board.

What is Kazarikiri?

Kazarikiri (飾り切り) or kazarigiri is a Japanese cutting technique that means “decorative cut.” It’s the art of carving fruit or vegetables into beautiful, symbolic shapes. We often use them in traditional Japanese cuisine to enhance the visual presentation of both everyday and celebratory meals. Common auspicious shapes include bamboo leaves (take), pine needles (matsu), plum blossom (ume), and horse reins (tazuna).

Namiko Hirasawa Chen

Why I Love to Make a Flower Pattern on Shiitake Mushroom Caps

  • Quick and simple – It takes less than 5 minutes, and the technique is so easy—even for a beginner.
  • Enhances presentation – This charming effect shows that you care and elevates your dish into something special.
  • Versatile for any occasion – Add them to your weeknight dinners, bento lunch box, or celebratory dishes for osechi ryori (Japanese New Year cuisine).

Types of Ingredients for Kazarikiri

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Jump to TUTORIAL

Key Kitchen Tool

  • sharp knife – I recommend a solid chef’s knife. I use a high-quality Nagomi Damascus Gyuto Chef Knife that you can find at JOC Goods. You could also use a nakiri knife (Japanese vegetable knife).
Nagomi Chef Knife Damascus

How to Make a Flower Pattern on Shiitake Mushroom Caps

  1. Make 2 long incisions in the shape of a V on the cap. Bevel these two cuts toward each other by inserting the knife’s edge at an angle. Nami’s tip: Rotate the mushroom 180 degrees—this makes it easier to insert the knife at the same angle for a clean, even cut.
A close-up of hands using a knife to slice the stem off a brown mushroom on a wooden cutting board, showing part of the process for how to make a flower pattern on shiitake mushroom caps.
A person demonstrates how to make a flower pattern on shiitake mushroom caps, using a sharp knife to carefully score the top while holding it steady on a wooden cutting board.
  1. Make a second beveled cutout to form an X with the first. 
Close-up of hands using a knife to score an X-shaped cut on a brown mushroom cap, demonstrating how to make a flower pattern on shiitake mushroom caps. Other mushrooms with similar decorative cuts are in the background.
A person demonstrates how to make a flower pattern on shiitake mushroom caps by scoring an X shape with a knife over a wooden cutting board; other mushrooms are nearby.
  1. Add the third or fourth cutouts to this X pattern.
A hand uses a sharp knife to carve a decorative star, demonstrating how to make a flower pattern on shiitake mushroom caps on a wooden cutting board.
A hand demonstrates how to make a flower pattern on shiitake mushroom caps, using a knife to score a star-shaped design, with other beautifully scored mushrooms resting on a wooden cutting board nearby.

Nami’s Tips

  • Use fresh shiitake mushrooms – I don’t recommend using dried shiitake mushrooms. Even after rehydration, the dried type does not have the right texture for creating the sharp, distinct cuts you need to make.
  • Make the beveled cuts symmetrical for the most attractive result.
  • Make the cuts shallow yet deep enough to expose the white flesh underneath.
  • Repurpose the shiitake scraps – Don’t throw them out! Mince the shiitake scraps and add to Gyoza and Keema Curry.

How to Use Decorative Shiitake Mushrooms

You can use these flower-top shiitake caps in a variety of Japanese dishes:

A black ceramic bowl containing kimchi gyoza hot pot.
A donabe claypot containing Nabeyaki Udon, which is made of udon noodles, kamaboko fish cake, fried tofu, egg cooked in a dashi broth and topped with shrimp tempura.
A large ceramic donburi rice bowl containing Sukiyaki Don, thinly sliced beef, tofu, and vegetables simmered in a savory dashi soy broth and served over steamed rice.
A ceramic plate containing Yakitori Style Grilled Vegetables along with Nigori Sake.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many flower petals should I make on the flower mushrooms?

I usually make mine with 8 or 6 petals as a rule of thumb, but it depends on the size of the mushroom cap. The minimum is 4 petals.

What kind of hot pot can I make with decorative shiitake?

The possibilities are endless. If you’re a fan of beef, make sukiyaki. If you love seafood, try yosenabe or salmon hot pot. I love tsukune hot pot with meatballs made with ground chicken, ginger, and eggs. Or, boil up a pot of shabu shabu with meat, tofu, and vegetables and serve it with light dipping sauces.

Can I use this cut on other mushrooms?

It depends. This cutting technique works on mushrooms with large caps that have a white or light flesh that contrasts with the outer surface. Wild mushrooms and other fungus like wood ear mushrooms may not be suitable.

A person uses a knife to carve a decorative star pattern into the cap of a shiitake mushroom on a wooden cutting board.
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How To Make a Flower Pattern on Shiitake Mushroom Caps

by Namiko Hirasawa Chen
Learn how to make a flower pattern on shiitake mushroom caps with my quick and easy tutorial. This decorative cutting technique is a simple way to enhance the visual presentation of your Japanese hot pots, simmered dishes, and celebratory meals.
Prep: 5 minutes
Servings: 5

Instructions

  • Clean the dirt and debris from a fresh shiitake mushroom with a soft brush, paper towel, or a clean kitchen towel. Then, cut off the stem with a kitchen knife.
  • Make a first cutout on the cap: Hold the shiitake mushroom with the cap side up. Using the heel of a sharp knife, insert the blade at an angle to make a long, shallow, and beveled incision across the center of the cap. Next, rotate the mushroom 180 degrees—this makes it easier to insert the knife at the same angle for a clean, even cut. Make a second symmetrical cut that's beveled toward the first incision to form a V-shaped cutout. Carefully slice off the top layer of the mushroom to expose the white flesh underneath. This will form a petal-like shape.
    Shiitake Kazarikiri 1
  • Make a second cutout: In the same manner, add cutouts to form an X with the first cutout. Make sure all cuts are shallow and symmetrical.
    Shiitake Kazarikiri 2
  • Create additional cuts: Continue adding extra cutouts between each petal to create a flower or star pattern.
    Shiitake Kazarikiri 3

Did you make this recipe?

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on December 24, 2012. It was updated with new images on October 4, 2024 and was republished on July 17, 2025.