Santoku Japanese kitchen knife Tadokoro Hamono VG-10 S/S Clad MT-6122 18cm

The Tadokoro Hamono Santoku, featuring a 180 mm blade, is a versatile Japanese kitchen knife designed for preparing meat, fish, vegetables, and herbs. Its wide blade, with a relatively straight cutting edge, is well-suited for slicing, dicing, and mincing. Each knife is handcrafted at the Tadokoro Hamono workshop and sharpened by Makoto Tadokoro—a renowned Japanese master sharpener who places meticulous focus on blade geometry and the quality of the cutting edge. The core of the blade is forged from Japanese VG-10 stainless steel, protected by stainless steel cladding. VG-10 is highly valued for its excellent balance of hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, as well as its ability to retain a sharp edge for a long time. The steel’s composition—which includes chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and cobalt—contributes to its superior performance characteristics. Compared to carbon steels, VG-10 is easier to maintain and does not require constant humidity control, though it is still recommended to wipe the knife dry after washing. The handle is crafted from quince burl, accented by a bolster made of white buffalo horn. These natural materials ensure that every handle features a unique pattern, giving each knife a distinctive and striking appearance.