Touroku Sakai CroMoV Sanshi Santoku 180mm

Taka Kitano leads Touroku Sakai, continuing a three-generation family legacy while working with skilled craftsmen throughout Japan. The CroMoV Sanshi Series combines easy-care stainless steel, efficient Japanese blade geometry, and lightweight wa-handle construction in a distinctive and approachable collection.

The Santoku is one of Japan's most versatile everyday kitchen knives. Traditionally associated with the "three virtues" of meat, fish, and vegetables, its compact all-purpose profile makes it equally comfortable handling everything from daily vegetable prep to proteins, herbs, and fruit.

At 180mm, the Sanshi Santoku provides slightly more working length than many traditional Santoku while remaining shorter and more maneuverable than a full-size Gyuto. Its relatively flat cutting profile favors clean push cuts and chopping while retaining enough curvature for controlled slicing and light rocking.

The mono-steel blade is made from CroMoV stainless steel and hardened to approximately 59 HRC. This provides a useful middle ground between softer Western stainless knives and significantly harder Japanese steels, offering good edge retention while remaining durable, corrosion resistant, and comparatively easy to sharpen.

A full-flat grind creates an efficient taper toward the cutting edge, while the clean Migaki finish gives the blade an understated medium polish.

The octagonal Japanese wa handle is crafted from mono oak and finished in Sanshi purple lacquer. Its lightweight construction helps keep the knife nimble and responsive while giving the series its unmistakable visual character.

For cooks looking for an easy-care Japanese all-purpose knife that feels lightweight, controlled, and comfortable across a broad range of kitchen tasks, the Touroku Sakai CroMoV Sanshi Santoku is an excellent everyday choice.