Top-10 premium Japanese santokus

This Japanese santoku knife was designed by top-chef Tim Mälzer. The blade is made from a core of VG-MAX steel with a hardness of 61HRC and is enhanced with 32 layers of stainless damascus steel on the outside. In addition to the stunning damascus steel you see a a 'hammered finish' on top of the blade. These dimples are the result of the forging process during which the smith modifies the blade with a hammer. The large and round handle is made from brown walnut wood and feels great in hand.

A stunning santoku, made in the Zwilling J.A. Henckels factory in Seki, Japan. It is enhanced with a core made from FC61, surrounded by 48 layers of damascus steel. Thanks to a special hardening process, during which the knives are cooled from approximately 1000 degrees to -70 degrees, the knives are incredibly robust with a hardness of 61 HRC. The handle also looks amazing. The black pakka wood gives the handle an exclusive look. Also because of the decorative red ring and beautiful mosaic pin.

This santoku is forged by hand in Japan. It is made from Blue Paper Steel. Blue Paper Steel contains small amounts of chrome and tungsten. It significantly improves the characteristics of the steel. It is hard, but less fragile than, for instance, White Paper Steel. With a hardness of 63HRC this is an incredibly hard and razor-sharp knife. Do keep in mind that, because of this hard type of steel the knife is prone to rust and shouldn't be used to cut through bones. When you try cutting through hard bones the blade can chip. This means that pieces of the blade literally break off because you are trying to cut through something that is too hard. As such you need to pay a little more attention when using these knives, but they are amazing to use.

A traditional Japanese knife that was forged by hand. The blade is enhanced with a VG-10 steel core, encased in 33 layers of damascus steel. Here you can also clearly see the hammered finish in the blade. The oriental character of the knife is emphasized by the choice of an octagonal handle made from Japanese zelkova wood. This is a light type of wood, both in terms of weight and colour. The knife only weighs 130 grams! The crop is made from mahogany wood. This is a denser and heavier type of wood than zelkova wood. The size of the crop determines where the balance of the knife lies. For every knife the crop is made to size to make sure the knife is perfectly balanced.

A classic, Japanese santoku knife. The blade of this knife is made from 33 layers of damascus steel with a VG10 steel core. The blade has an Asian grind and is partially hammered. This takes care of the unique look and feel. Because of the design of the handle which is made from Spanish mahogany wood. And the use of the stainless steel bolster ensures that the handle feels European. As such both styles are nicely mixed. All in all a stunning, fancy santoku.

The Kai Shun Nagare is a stunning santoku. A sight for sore eyes. You might even forget that this knife is also amazing to use. The razor-sharp blade is made from flexible VG2 steel and hard VG10 steel, combined to end up with 72 layers of damascus steel. This knife is enhanced with an Asian grind and has a hardness of 61 HRC. The handle is made from black-grey pakka wood and secured with two rivets. Compared to the blade the handle looks small. Despite its length the handle feels great in hand. It is the result of the flowing lines you can easily wrap your hand around.

The smallest santoku in this list. The Yaxell Zen is a classic santoku. The blade is partially hammered according to Japanese tradition. It not only looks amazing, the dimples are also very practical. The pattern namely ensures that food won't stick to the blade as you cut it. So nice and practical! The blade is also slightly polished which is in nice contrast with the dark handle. The handle is made from micarta. A material comprised of linen and epoxy resin which provides you with enough grip. Even when wet.

It doesn't get any more traditional than this Mujun Sekiso knife. This Japanese santoku is namely made by hand by master blacksmiths in a traditional craftsman's village. Here blacksmith's work and live according to ancient, Japanese traditions. The stunning damascus blade has a core made from AUS-10 steel. A Japanese, stainless type of steel that is easy to sharpen. The old-fashioned, Asian handle is made from mahogany wood and buffalo horn. Both are natural products. Combined with the traditional production process it ensures that every knife is really unique.

This santoku knife has a rock-solid damascus steel blade and is made in the J.A. Henckels factory in Seki, Japan. The blade is made from MC63 powder steel. This type of steel is known for its excellent sharpness retention. The blade is enhanced with no less than 100 layers of steel. Due to the special treatment of the steel, each blade has its own unique flower pattern. Stunning! The D-shaped handle is made from Masur birch wood. This type of wood is known for its stunning, natural pattern. In the middle it is enhanced with a beautiful mosaic pin.

The Tojiro Shippu Black is a simple santoku with a fancy look and feel. The blade is made from 63 layers of damascus steel with a VG10 steel core. A process with black iron oxide ensures that the blade can handle rust even better. As a result of this process the damascus pattern also got a lot darker. Great for contrast. Afterwards the blade is polished to make sure it shines like a mirror. This knife will stand out in every kitchen. The handle has a traditional, Japanese D-shape, and is made from burnt chestnut wood. In between the handle and the blade you will find a black polypropylene bolster. A rock-solid plastic that brings the whole together.