The santoku, whose name translates as 'three virtues' in Japanese, covers the three core kitchen tasks: vegetables, meat, and fish. At 170 mm, this compact format offers easy handling for everyday use. Its tall blade profile provides a generous working surface and good knuckle clearance, while the rounded tip orients the cutting motion toward push cuts rather than rocking. The double bevel (ryoba) makes it ambidextrous.
The nashiji finish gives the blade a lightly textured, granular surface reminiscent of the skin of an Asian pear. Sitting between a raw kurouchi and a polished migaki, this surface treatment creates a clear visual contrast with the sharpened edge. The handle is made from Pakka, a wood-resin composite with a dense, uniform surface that resists moisture.
At 170 mm, this santoku falls within the standard size range for this knife type, suited to both compact workspaces and extended use sessions. The combination of the nashiji finish and the Pakka handle results in a knife that requires straightforward day-to-day upkeep: rinse, dry, store.
Care
Rinse and dry after each use. Never put in the dishwasher.