Yoshimitsu Kajiya Santoku-bocho 120mm Shirogami #2

Santoku knives are a mainstay product for many Japanese knifemakers, they sit in that everybody-needs-one impulse-buy sweet spot that rings up sales in a variety of settings.

Canny makers treat their santoku-bocho as a gateway product and a welcome to the fold, rather than a buy and good-bye transaction. Ide san aims to delight with the cutting feel and naturally that delivers repeat sales (and we all love repeat sales).

So, sharpness first and foremost. It's not easy to discern in our images but the cutting edge of this knife sports a mirror-polish that speaks to the final sharpening that every santoku deserves. A thumbnail test offers a frisson of excitement (speaking as a knife merchant).

Other details adding to a great user experience are the nicely finished choil, the made-for-filleting tip and the vegetable-friendly profile in between. Little vegetables maybe.