Indigo Japanese Santoku Knife
As this item is made to order, it usually takes up to 2 - 3 weeks to manufacture and ship from Japan.
SANTOKU knives are widely used in households. It can be used for meat, fish, and vegetables, and is sometimes called an all-purpose knife because it can be used in any way. The blade is wider than that of a petty knife or a gyuto knife, which is designed so that the blade remains firmly inside and cuts through to the end, even when cutting cabbage or other large vegetables. This is one of the best knives to choose or replace your first one.
- Steel: VG10 Damascus (rust-resistant)
- Blade length: 7" (18 cm)
- Handle: Hiba Wood
- Process of handle: Indigo dyeing + waterproof coating
The indigo-dyed gradation is created by a special technique called "indigo dyeing (AIZOME) on wood. Indigo "Ai" has been used by the Japanese since ancient times for its antibacterial and deodorizing properties, and by using it in kitchen knives, "Ai" knives are both hygienic and visually appealing.
The blades of indigo kitchen knives are produced by craftsmen of "Yamawaki Cutlery" in Sakai, Osaka. Sakai in Osaka has a 600-year history as a kitchen knife production area, and the craftsmen in the largest production area in Japan have cleared the most important specifications for kitchen knives: quality and sharpness.
The indigo-dyeing of indigo kitchen knives is produced by craftsmen at Mai Kobo in Tokushima Prefecture, a major production center of indigo. The hiba (handle), which is the handle of the knife, is dyed with indigo.
Most Japanese kitchen knives are not made of one piece of stainless steel, but rather two pieces, the blade and the handle. The blade is inserted into the handle, and if the blade is not maintained properly, water will enter the handle. If this happens, the blade rusts and the handle rots, shortening the life of the knife and, of course, making the handle prone to cracking, which is dangerous and unsanitary above all. Therefore, we use hiba (hiba wood) for the indigo-dyed handles.