{"title":"Santoku or the \"Quintessential Japanese Kitchen Knife\"","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Santoku is a highly versatile tool, much like a chef’s knife. The Bunka is its more bad-ass cousin. The extra height offers more knuckle clearance for those with big hands while the shorter blade is comfortable for even the most delicate of cooks. In Japanese Santoku means three-virtues which breaks down to meat, fish and vegetables.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/knifewear.mom\/pages\/knifewear-gift-guide\"\u003eBROWSE THE REST OF THE GIFT GUIDE\u003c\/a\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fujimoto-nashiji-santoku-165mm","title":"Fujimoto Nashiji Santoku 165mm","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese were the first Fujimoto blades we carried; to this day, they remain a staff and customer favourite. Here’s why: some Japanese blades are made with carbon steel, which gets crazy sharp but can rust, while others are made from stainless steel, which is easy to care for but doesn’t quite have the same magic. These are the best of both worlds, made with a super hard carbon steel core, protected by an outer layer of stainless steel, so only the edge requires maintenance! It’s a genius way of making a knife, and the ‘nashiji’ finish, inspired by the look and feel of Asian pear skin, takes it over the top.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFujimoto blades are crafted by a team of expert craftspeople, and each step is hand-done by a specialist in their field to create a consistent, affordable, high-performance knife. Fujimoto knives sport a classic Japanese handle, called a ‘wa handle,’ that puts most of the knife’s weight in the blade. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-fd7723e5-7fff-b15b-5f5e-c1dca79b9494\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eAbout the shape - \u003c\/strong\u003eSantoku means 'Three Virtues' or 'To solve Three Problems'. The three virtues are meat, fish and vegetables, or slicing, dicing and mincing depending on your interpretation. This means that the Santoku is an all-around knife, suitable for the amateur home cook and the professional chef alike. The height means good clearance for big hands, while the relatively short blade can be wielded by anyone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fujimoto","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":5280637508,"sku":"FUJN165SA","price":195.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/files\/Fujimoto_Nashiji_Santoku_165mm_1.jpg?v=1772741371"},{"product_id":"masakage-kiri-bunka-165mm","title":"Masakage Kiri Bunka 165mm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout Masakage Kiri - \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen you first pick up the Kiri, you’ll notice just how light it is. The steel is hammered thinner than your average knife, which lets it fly through dense foods like potatoes and squash with ease. This knife is hand-forged from VG10, a high-carbon stainless steel that gets wildly sharp and holds an excellent edge without requiring much maintenance. The VG10 core steel is laminated with stunning layers of damascus steel, which, combined with the red and white Japanese wa handle, make for a STUNNING knife. Truly, usable art!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoshimi Kato is the son-in-law and successor of Hiroshi Kato, one of the founders of Takefu Knife Village. The transition from apprentice to master blacksmith and company head has been seamless for Yoshimi-san. He tells me that he strives to continuously improve his skill day-by-day, and I look forward to working with the next generation of Kato for decades to come! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoshimi-san is a quiet man, calmly pushing forward at a steady pace and speaking more through his knives than his words. And boy, do they speak! Yoshimi-san’s knives are among the most gorgeous, laser-like blades I’ve ever handled.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/b\u003e The Bunka looks like a bonafide badass. It is a multi purpose knife akin to the Santoku. “Bunka” translates to “culture.” A cross between the Nakiri and Gyuto, Bunkas can do it all. It’s the best of both worlds with the volume cranked to 11.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Masakage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":5284268932,"sku":"MAAV165BU","price":436.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/kiribunka1.jpg?v=1743609129"},{"product_id":"masakage-kiri-santoku-165mm","title":"Masakage Kiri Santoku 165mm","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout Masakage Kiri - \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen you first pick up the Kiri, you’ll notice just how light it is. The steel is hammered thinner than your average knife, which lets it fly through dense foods like potatoes and squash with ease. This knife is hand-forged from VG10, a high-carbon stainless steel that gets wildly sharp and holds an excellent edge without requiring much maintenance. The VG10 core steel is laminated with stunning layers of damascus steel, which, combined with the red and white Japanese wa handle, make for a STUNNING knife. Truly, usable art!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoshimi Kato is the son-in-law and successor of Hiroshi Kato, one of the founders of Takefu Knife Village. The transition from apprentice to master blacksmith and company head has been seamless for Yoshimi-san. He tells me that he strives to continuously improve his skill day-by-day, and I look forward to working with the next generation of Kato for decades to come! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoshimi-san is a quiet man, calmly pushing forward at a steady pace and speaking more through his knives than his words. And boy, do they speak! Yoshimi-san’s knives are among the most gorgeous, laser-like blades I’ve ever handled.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/b\u003e This is also a multi purpose knife, but with a slight vegetable bias. Santoku means 'Three Virtues' or 'To solve Three Problems'. The virtues or problems are slicing, dicing and mincing. Santoku is usually found in 160mm - 190mm lengths. These are more and more popular in Western kitchens due to the unique shape and smaller easy to handle size.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Masakage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":5284447300,"sku":"MAAV165SA","price":426.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/kirisantoku1.jpg?v=1743609131"},{"product_id":"masakage-kumo-santoku-165mm","title":"Masakage Kumo Santoku 165mm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout Masakage Kumo -\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTakumi Ikeda-san loves making stunning damascus blades, and the Kumo is no exception. The name means ‘cloud’ in Japanese, inspired by the cloud-like patterns in the steel. Sandwiched between those gorgeous steel layers is a core of crazy-sharp VG10 stainless steel, an incredible material made to perform like ancient carbon steel but with minimal maintenance. The result is a blade that cuts like a dream while being super easy to care for. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIkeda-san, the nephew of legendary blacksmith and Takefu Knife Village co-founder Katsushige Anryu-san, began his knifemaking apprenticeship in 2007. In January 2021, Anryu-san officially passed the reins of Anryu Hamono to Ikeda-san. By that point, Ikeda-san was already a master and doing most of the forging at Anryu Hamono. With some serious traditional skills under his belt and a fresh outlook on knifemaking, Ikeda-san is already doing the family legacy justice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/b\u003e This is also a multi purpose knife, but with a slight vegetable bias. Santoku means 'Three Virtues' or 'To solve Three Problems'. The virtues or problems are slicing, dicing and mincing. Santoku is usually found in 160mm - 190mm lengths. These are more and more popular in Western kitchens due to the unique shape and smaller easy to handle size.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-c3efafac-7fff-570e-470c-9a7f1c4a8789\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MD5YBB_OjgA\" title=\"YouTube video player\" data-dashlane-frameid=\"7576\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Masakage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":5412443396,"sku":"MAK165SA","price":403.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/masakage-kumo-santoku-1.jpg?v=1761248769"},{"product_id":"masakage-yuki-santoku-165mm","title":"Masakage Yuki Santoku 165mm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout Masakage Yuki - \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen you pick up the Yuki, you’ll notice just how light it is. The steel is hammered thinner than your average knife, which lets it fly through dense veggies with ease. Shirogami, or ‘white carbon’ in English, is a very traditional steel prized by blacksmiths and knife nerds alike for its great edge retention and legendary sharpness. Yuki knives are clad in softer stainless steel, so only the very edge has to be kept dry to prevent rust. This line is one of our most popular and a frequent gateway into the world of hand-hammered knives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The name Yuki (meaning ‘snow’ in Japanese) comes from the frosty looking ‘nashiji,’ or ‘pear skin,’ finish. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoshimi Kato is the son-in-law and successor of Hiroshi Kato, one of the founders of Takefu Knife Village. The transition from apprentice to master blacksmith and company head has been seamless for Yoshimi-san. He tells me that he strives to continuously improve his skill day-by-day, and I look forward to working with the next generation of Kato for decades to come! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoshimi-san is a quiet man, calmly pushing forward at a steady pace and speaking more through his knives than his words. And boy, do they speak! Yoshimi-san’s knives are among the most gorgeous, laser-like blades I’ve ever handled.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/b\u003e This is also a multi purpose knife, but with a slight vegetable bias. Santoku means 'Three Virtues' or 'To solve Three Problems'. The virtues or problems are slicing, dicing and mincing. Santoku is usually found in 160mm - 190mm lengths. These are more and more popular in Western kitchens due to the unique shape and smaller easy to handle size.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Masakage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":5621223172,"sku":"MAY165SA","price":352.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/yukisantoku.jpg?v=1670964583"},{"product_id":"masakage-kumo-bunka-170mm","title":"Masakage Kumo Bunka 170mm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout Masakage Kumo -\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTakumi Ikeda-san loves making stunning damascus blades, and the Kumo is no exception. The name means ‘cloud’ in Japanese, inspired by the cloud-like patterns in the steel. Sandwiched between those gorgeous steel layers is a core of crazy-sharp VG10 stainless steel, an incredible material made to perform like ancient carbon steel but with minimal maintenance. The result is a blade that cuts like a dream while being super easy to care for. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIkeda-san, the nephew of legendary blacksmith and Takefu Knife Village co-founder Katsushige Anryu-san, began his knifemaking apprenticeship in 2007. In January 2021, Anryu-san officially passed the reins of Anryu Hamono to Ikeda-san. By that point, Ikeda-san was already a master and doing most of the forging at Anryu Hamono. With some serious traditional skills under his belt and a fresh outlook on knifemaking, Ikeda-san is already doing the family legacy justice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/b\u003e The Bunka looks like a bonafide badass. It is a multi purpose knife akin to the Santoku. “Bunka” translates to “culture.” A cross between the Nakiri and Gyuto, Bunkas can do it all. It’s the best of both worlds with the volume cranked to 11.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-634bbb2b-7fff-a6e0-504b-775117e8cfda\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe data-dashlane-frameid=\"1198295875607\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MD5YBB_OjgA\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Masakage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":5678750980,"sku":"MAK170BU","price":403.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/masakage-kumo-bunka-1.jpg?v=1551831768"},{"product_id":"haruyuki-mugi-santoku-180mm","title":"Haruyuki Mugi Santoku 180mm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout Haruyuki Mugi - \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Haruyuki Mugi is forged from a spectacular modern stainless steel called AUS-8, perfect for folks who want a high performance knife that isn’t too fragile. It gets super sharp and holds an edge very well but isn’t high maintenance the way some traditional Japanese steels are known to be. This means you can get lost in enjoying the cooking process without worrying about washing up right away.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI’m a huge fan of this rough, hammered ‘tsuchime’ finish. It shows the love that goes into making the knife and just looks stunning. The Mugi’s hefty European-style ‘yo handle’ gives it a familiar feel that inspires confidence in those of us who grew up with Western knives. Together, these make for a super handsome knife that I just adore.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHaruyuki knives are made in a way that combines ancient Japanese tradition with efficient modern technology: blades are forged by machine for unparalleled precision, consistency, and affordability. Skilled artisans complete each step lovingly, from polishing and sharpening the blade to affixing its handle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/b\u003e This is also a multi purpose knife, but with a slight vegetable bias. Santoku means 'Three Virtues' or 'To solve Three Problems'. The virtues or problems are slicing, dicing and mincing. Santoku is usually found in 160mm - 190mm lengths. These are more and more popular in Western kitchens due to the unique shape and smaller easy to handle size.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Haruyuki","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":10060120900,"sku":"HAKU180SA","price":175.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/haruyukimugisantoku1801.jpg?v=1670965261"},{"product_id":"haruyuki-kokuto-santoku-165mm","title":"Haruyuki Kokuto Santoku 165mm","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Haruyuki Kokuto\u003c\/strong\u003e is forged from a modern high-tech stainless steel called Ginsan, which was specially designed to cut much like traditional Japanese high-carbon steel without being a rusty pain in the butt! You get the joy of cutting with a traditional Japanese knife but none of the fussy maintenance. Truly, the best of both worlds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe lighter Japanese ‘wa handle’ gives the knife a forward balance that allows it to fall through food effortlessly and do more of the work for you, which I absolutely love. Combined with a rustic ‘nashiji’ finish that looks like the skin of an Asian pear, it’s a traditionally elegant blade.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHaruyuki knives are made in a way that combines ancient Japanese tradition with efficient modern technology: blades are forged by machine for unparalleled precision, consistency, and affordability. Skilled artisans complete each step lovingly, from polishing and sharpening the blade to affixing its handle. The resulting knives have the feel and aesthetics of a traditional handmade knife while being more accessible to young cooks and folks starting their knife collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-2421c220-7fff-4270-2ddc-9c4577e5a241\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/b\u003e This is also a multi purpose knife, but with a slight vegetable bias. Santoku means 'Three Virtues' or 'To solve Three Problems'. The virtues or problems are slicing, dicing and mincing. Santoku is usually found in 160mm - 190mm lengths. These are more and more popular in Western kitchens due to the unique shape and smaller easy to handle size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Haruyuki","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21815176265776,"sku":"HAG165SA","price":215.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/kokuto-santoku-1b.jpg?v=1759943874"},{"product_id":"fujimoto-sld-santoku-165mm","title":"Fujimoto Hammer Tone SLD Santoku 165mm","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI’ve always loved blades like this with a hammered ‘tsuchime’ texture and a dark ‘kurouchi’ finish because they show the love that went into making the knife and just looks so badass. This particular blade is forged from SLD steel, which takes a crazy edge and holds it super well but isn’t high maintenance like some Japanese steels. Just wash by hand and wipe it dry to avoid rust!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFujimoto knives sport a classic Japanese handle, called a ‘wa handle,’ that puts most of the knife’s weight in the blade.  While it may seem a little unusual to some, this design allows the knife to do more of the work and is super comfortable once you get used to it. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFujimoto blades are crafted by a team of expert craftspeople, and each step is hand-done by a specialist in their field to create a consistent, affordable, high-performance knife. The result is an incredible Japanese blade in a traditional style that is super reliable and doesn’t break the bank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Shape -\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Santoku means 'Three Virtues' or 'To solve Three Problems'. The three virtues are meat, fish and vegetables, or slicing, dicing and mincing depending on your interpretation. This means that the Santoku is an all-around knife, the height means good clearance for big hands, while the relatively short blade can be wielded by anyone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fujimoto","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":28538430390320,"sku":"FUJSL165SA","price":251.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/products\/hammertone-santoku-165-1.jpg?v=1746567676"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/9439\/collections\/64a2c4543191683d4e8cc1cda216dcad_304d4f86-02e7-4a98-b49d-f3fcd48a1583.jpg?v=1599001485","url":"https:\/\/knifewear.mom\/en-gb\/collections\/santoku-knives.oembed","provider":"Knifewear - Handcrafted Japanese Kitchen Knives","version":"1.0","type":"link"}