The Santoku is a versatile, all-purpose knife that excels in precision cutting, making it a staple in both professional and home kitchens. The name “Santoku” translates to “three virtues,” referring to its ability to handle slicing, dicing, and chopping with ease. With its shorter, wider blade and a flat cutting edge, the Santoku is designed for a more up-and-down chopping motion, making it an excellent alternative to the Gyuto, especially for those who prefer a more compact knife.
Unlike a Gyuto, which has a pronounced curve for rocking cuts, the Santoku features a straighter edge, allowing for clean, precise cuts with minimal horizontal movement. The sheep’s foot tip provides extra control for delicate slicing, while the wide blade makes it easy to scoop up chopped ingredients. Many Santoku knives also feature a granton edge (hollow grooves), which helps reduce food from sticking to the blade, improving efficiency.
With its balanced weight, sharp edge, and ergonomic design, the Santoku is an ideal choice for those who want a lightweight, efficient, and easy-to-handle knife for everyday kitchen tasks. Whether you’re chopping vegetables, slicing meat, or mincing herbs, the Santoku delivers precision and versatility in every cut.
The Hatsukokoro Saihyo SG2 knives feature a core of SG2 (Super Gold 2) powdered stainless steel, a high-performance alloy known for its exceptional hardness (typically around 62–63 HRC), fine grain structure, and remarkable edge retention. This steel allows the blade to be ground exceptionally thin without compromising durability, delivering incredibly smooth and precise cuts. SG2 is also highly resistant to corrosion and wear, making it ideal for both professional and home kitchens with minimal maintenance. Visually, the knives are stunning encased in a layered Damascus cladding that showcases intricate, flowing patterns reminiscent of natural waves or suminagashi ink art. The surface has a mirror or semi-polished finish that accentuates the Damascus layers.
Weight: 132g
Handle Material: Octagonal stabilised birch with white spacer
Handle Length: 130mm (5.1")
Blade Length: 183mm (7.2")
Blade Depth: 48mm
Thickness at spine: 1.9mm
Thickness at tip: 0.3mm
Cutting Edge: Double 50/50
Blade Material: SG2 core steel with stainless steel cladding
Hardness (Rockwell scale): 63 - 64
