Overview

The Hatsukokoro Ryuhyo SG2 Damascus Migaki Santoku 180mm is a light, versatile Japanese kitchen knife with a polished Damascus blade and a mono olive wood wa handle. Its compact profile suits everyday tasks such as dicing onions, slicing vegetables, chopping herbs, and preparing boneless meat or fish.

The cutting core is SG2 powdered stainless steel, supported by stainless Damascus cladding. This combination offers strong edge retention with straightforward daily care. The migaki finish brings out the blade's layered pattern, while the octagonal olive wood handle provides a comfortable grip with natural color and grain that vary from knife to knife.

Choose this santoku if you prefer a shorter all-purpose knife to a full-size gyuto. Its broad blade offers useful knuckle clearance, and the thin edge rewards controlled push cuts and slicing. It is a practical size for home cooking, small workspaces, and cooks who value precise handling.

Common Questions

Can this santoku be my main kitchen knife?

Yes. A santoku handles most everyday preparation of vegetables, boneless meat, and fish. Its shorter blade is easy to maneuver, though a longer gyuto or slicer offers more reach for large roasts and oversized produce.

Is SG2 stainless steel easy to care for?

SG2 is corrosion-resistant, so it does not need the frequent wiping required by reactive carbon steel. Still, hand wash and dry it promptly after use, including the wooden handle. Never leave the knife soaking or put it in a dishwasher.

Can left-handed cooks use this knife?

Yes. This is a double-bevel santoku with a symmetrical octagonal handle, suitable for both right- and left-handed use.

Why is the cutting edge shorter than the listed 180mm?

The 180mm designation is the nominal size. Measured examples have an edge length of approximately 176mm. Dimensions and weight can vary slightly between individual knives.

Care and Sharpening

Use a wood or soft synthetic cutting board, such as a Hasegawa cutting board. Avoid bones, frozen food, hard cutting surfaces, twisting, and prying. Keep the edge protected during storage.

Refresh the edge with light passes on a Tokushu Knife leather strop when appropriate, and sharpen with suitable whetstones when needed. Our knife sharpening service is available for professional edge preparation.

Specifications

Brand: Hatsukokoro

Series: Ryuhyo

Knife Type: Santoku

Core Steel: SG2 / R2 powdered stainless steel

Cladding Type: Stainless Damascus, san-mai construction

Finish: Migaki / polished Damascus

Nominal Blade Length: 180mm

Cutting Edge Length: 176mm

Blade Height at Heel: 49mm

Spine Thickness at Heel: 2.1mm

Spine Thickness at Mid: 1.6mm

Weight: 122g

Handle Material: Mono olive wood, octagonal wa handle

Hardness: 62–64 HRC

Edge: Double bevel

Country of Origin: Japan

Measurements are approximate. Olive wood grain and Damascus patterns vary from the photographs.