Forged in Sakai by Kenji Togashi, this 180 mm santoku in Shirogami #1 (White Steel #1) brings together two elements rarely combined at this format: the purity of an unalloyed carbon steel and the concave bevel geometry characteristic of Togashi's hand-grinding. The santoku's tall profile provides a generous working surface and good knuckle clearance, with a rounded tip oriented toward clean push cuts through vegetables, meat, and fish.
The handle is ebony, a very dense, tight-grained wood with a deep dark tone. Its weight and compactness contrast with the lean geometry of the blade. Construction is sanmai: a Shirogami #1 core with a forged jigane cladding, consistent with Togashi's approach across all double-bevel models. The concave bevel, hand-ground by Kenya Togashi, reduces drag in the cut and makes sharpening on a whetstone more responsive.
Shirogami #1 (White Steel #1) is the purest carbon steel in the Yasugi range: no chromium, no tungsten, with a carbon content of 1.25 to 1.35% and hardness reaching 63 to 65 HRC. This level of purity allows the edge to reach a degree of fineness that few steels match, but requires more passes on the stone compared to Shirogami #2. Patina develops quickly on contact with acids and moisture, this is expected behavior, not a flaw. Wiping the blade immediately after each use is essential to prevent corrosion.
Care
Wipe and dry immediately after use. Never leave the blade in prolonged contact with moisture or acidic ingredients. Apply a light coat of camellia oil for storage. Never put in the dishwasher.