Yoshimi Kato VG-10 Suminagashi Santoku 180mm

Over 50 years after starting as an apprentice to his father, Hiroshi Kato is still inspired by thinking of people cooking with his knives. He always considers balance when hammering the steel, keeping in mind where a knife needs to be thin and where it needs to be strong.

His dedication to his art can be seen in these fine VG-10 knives which look far more refined than their price would suggest. Starting with a core (jigane) of VG-10 stainless steel he then applies outer layers (hagane) of a softer stainless steel to protect the inner core while adding strength and durability. This outer layer is decorated with a beautiful suminagashi (damascus) finish which is etched to further enhance the damascus pattern.

The santoku featured here is a wonderful all-around slicer and dicer. Its tall blade offers increased finger to board clearance while its shorter length makes it ideal for handling a wide variety of produce and proteins. These knives are gaining popularity as a replacement to the ubiquitous chef knife for good reason. The symmetrical 50/50 grind coupled to the gently curved belly make this a good choice for cooks of all types and cutting preferences.

The lovely Western rosewood color handle and stainless bolster are perfectly matched to the attractive blade. The Kato VG-10 Suminagashi santoku 180mm combines great looks, abilities, and value.

Maker: Hiroshi Kato

Location: Echizen Japan

Steel: VG-10 Stainless

HRC: 61

Weight: 5.8 ounces

Blade Length: 177mm

Total Length: 300 mm

Spine Thickness at Base: 1.8 mm

Blade Height: 44.7mm

Edge Grind: Even

Handle: Western Rosewood