Kanso // H.G Santoku 5.5”

When it comes to your kitchen, it's all about finding the tool that are just right for you. If you prefer a smaller knife, try the Shun Kanso 5.5-inch Santoku. In size, it's smaller than the full-sized santoku, but still offers all the performance you expect from a favorite kitchen tool. Its in-between weight and size make this santoku perfect for medium-sized kitchen tasks, from slicing carrots and shallots to mincing herbs to cutting chocolate or butter. The hollow-grounds on the blade help food release more quickly, making food preparation even easier. Cooks with smaller hands or those who simply prefer a more compact knife may find that this slightly smaller santoku becomes a top go-to knife. Some cooks even use it in place of a paring knife, or find it to be the ideal size for cutting up breakfast fruit.

Kanso, the namesake of this collection, is a design principle based on Zen philosophy. It means “simplicity,” but simplicity that is achieved by eliminating the non-essential. In Kanso, only the most important details remain: high-performance steel, a razor-sharp edge, perfect balance, and precision cutting control. The steel is Japanese AUS10A—highly refined, high-carbon, vanadium stainless steel that takes a razor-sharp edge and holds it longer. Kanso's Heritage finish hides scratches and gives Kanso a rustic look that just improves with age. The handle is made of tagayasan wood, sometimes known as “iron sword wood", while full-tang construction provides strength, balance, and easy cutting control. Like all Shun knives, Kanso is sharpened to a 16° cutting angle each side to cut cleanly and help preserve food’s freshness and best taste.