Tojiro Origami Santoku 165mm (6.5″)

TOJIRO Origami Santoku 165mm (6.5″) is a handy, multi-purpose, low-maintenance, and affordable knife. As the name suggests, the inspiration for the unique folded design comes from the Japanese traditional paper art origami and the multitude of forms it takes, which translates well into this knife’s versatility of use and the artful dishes it helps create.

The design is unique—the knife is made from a single folded metal sheet, with no welding process involved. The design was awarded a world-famous product design award, the iF Design Award. As such this blade is a must-have for knife lovers who like unique, well-designed blades, not just to use but to admire as well.

BLADE SHAPE:
The Santoku knife, originating from Japan, is a versatile and multipurpose kitchen tool commonly found in Japanese households. It excels at various cutting and chopping tasks on the cutting board.
The name “Santoku” derives from the Japanese word “San,” meaning “three,” representing the knife’s three virtues. It effortlessly handles three key ingredients: meat, fish, and vegetables. It is equally adept at slicing, chopping, and mincing, making it a versatile companion in the kitchen.
The Santoku knife is divided into three distinct parts. The tip is designed for intricate work, allowing for precise cuts. The cutting edge serves general cutting purposes, accommodating a range of tasks. Lastly, the heel of the knife is perfect for heavy-duty chopping.
With its rich heritage and versatile design, the Santoku knife is an indispensable tool for any kitchen, catering to a wide range of cutting needs with its three virtues.

STEEL:
The blade is made of high-carbon stainless molybdenum vanadium steel with a hardness of 58-59 HRC, which boasts excellent rust resistance and is easy to maintain. The knife is easy to sharpen and has excellent edge retention.
→ Read more about blade maintenance here.

LAMINATION:
The blade’s core was laminated using the san-mai method to improve its structural integrity and subsequent ability to withstand impacts and prevent chipping. San-mai translates to “three layers” in Japanese, referring to a blade that is composed of a primary, inner layer of harder steel (hagane) and of two secondary, outer layers of softer steel (jigane) that protect the prior.
→ Read more on Blade Construction: Lamination.

GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (50/50 symmetrical) grind, which allows for smooth and even cutting, with a flat V-edge profile. 

BLADE FINISH:
The blade features a clean, highly polished mirror finish (also called migaki). It is a simple, minimalistic blade. The surface of the knife is thinned and polished during the manufacturing process to expose the smooth and shiny surface of the knife. Such a finished look minimizes damage to the food cells during cutting, so it is suitable for the most delicate tasks.

HANDLE:
The unique folded handle is made from stainless steel; together with the blade it is made from the same metal sheet and continues directly from the blade with a fold, with no welding involved. The handle is triangular in shape and symmetrical, so it is suitable for left and right-handed users and sits in the hand very well. Due to its unique origami folding, its core is hollow. The box includes a cleaning brush for the inside of the handle.

ABOUT THE BLACKSMITH:
TOJIRO is one of the top 5 largest Japanese kitchen knife manufacturers. They are renowned across Japan and internationally for their top-quality knives for a reasonable price. TOJIRO’s focus on advanced technologies, together with their insatiable dedication for constant improvements of their knives and materials, makes TOJIRO’s knives a must-have in any kitchen. TOJIRO’s main focus? Sharpness! A big bonus is their great team which we are always very eager to meet and talk to! 😊

Take a look inside the TOJIRO smithy and learn more about their master blacksmith Tomoo Matsumura in the following video: