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 Senko EI (“sharp flash”) collection is a striking modern take on traditional Japanese knives, forged from ultra hard SG2 (R2) powder steel and finished with a signature “Senko” triangular tsuchime hammer texture that reflects light and reduces food sticking. Featuring a slightly more tapered, sharp “Ei” profile with pointed tips, these knives blend razor sharp edges, thin geometry for effortless cuts, Designed by rising blacksmith Yu Kurosaki of Takefu, the series delivers elegant aesthetics an interplay of polished steel and artisanal handles alongside professional performance: balanced, versatile blades ideal for slicing, rocking herbs, and chopping, with long-lasting rust resistance.

The maple wood handles are not only visually stunning but also thoughtfully engineered for balance, durability, and tactile comfort. Crafted from high quality western or stabilised maple adorned with decorative mosaic rings the handles feature a classic octagonal or ergonomic western profile that softens the grip, resists moisture due to its tight grain, and beautifully complements the blade’s hammered aesthetic. The natural warmth and light tone of maple create an elegant contrast against the dark tsuchime clad stainless steel, while its stability and fine texture ensure lasting resilience even under heavy use. Combined with a secure full-tang construction, these handles balance the blade’s weight precisely at the pinch point, resulting in a nimble chef’s tool that feels instantly intuitive a hallmark of Kurosaki’s craft.

Weight: 173g

Handle Material: Western style full tang stabilised maplewood, mosaic copper rivets, gold ferrule

Handle Length: 116mm (4.5")

Blade Length: 169mm (6.6")

Blade Depth: 34mm

Thickness at spine: 1.8mm

Thickness at tip: 0.2mm

Cutting Edge: Double 50/50

Blade Material: R2/SG2 core, stainless steel cladding, tsuchime finish

Hardness (Rockwell scale): 62 - 63