Carbon Santoku Knife

Same reliable performance, new look! Niwaki's Santoku Knife now features a warmer, lighter-colored walnut wood handle.

The santoku is Japan’s standard household knife—a versatile chef's tool for everyday kitchen tasks and meal preparation. Niwaki’s Santoku Knife pairs a razor-sharp white paper carbon steel blade with an octagonal walnut wood handle.

Lightweight and well-balanced, it excels at precise, detail-oriented work while maintaining an exceptionally keen edge. It handles everything from chopping vegetables and slicing meat and fish to finely mincing ginger and garlic with ease.

Beautifully balanced and tastefully simple, carbon steel knives like this one are a popular choice for Japanese chefs, as they sharpen quickly and easily. While carbon blades can be sharpened to a finer edge and hold that sharpness longer than stainless steel, they do require a bit more care. Please read our tips for Caring for Carbon Steel Knives before you purchase. 

For finer cuts, meet this Santoku's smaller counterpart—the Carbon Mini Santoku Knife.

Materials:  shirogami white paper steel, walnut, Micarta ring

Each handle is made from two pieces of walnut separated by a Micarta accent. As wood is a natural material, variations in grain, color, and texture are to be expected, and the two wood sections may not match exactly. 

Made by:  Niwaki

Made in:  Japan

Specifications: 

• 12.3"
• 6.2" blade
• octagonal handles

Care:  Immediately hand wash with mild soap and dry after use. The carbon steel blades will oxidize and rust if not looked after, so make sure to clean, dry thoroughly, and wipe with a little Camellia Oil if not used daily. Please read our tips for Caring for Carbon Steel Knives before purchasing.

For more information on caring for wooden knives, we invite you to read our article, "Wooden Brushes, Knives, and Tools: Tips for Use and Care".

Further Reading:  The word niwaki in Japanese means "garden tree", and it refers to the art of training trees through care, attention, and detail. Niwaki brings the very best in Japanese design and craftsmanship, inspiring gardeners, chefs, and craftsmen to do the stuff they love, even better. 

Niwaki's Carbon Kitchen Knives are made at the Tadafusa Factory in Sanjo, Japan, founded in 1948 and now run by the third generation of the Sone family. 

Explore our full Niwaki collection for thoughtfully crafted Japanese tools designed for the home, garden, and daily life.