Shun Kanso 5-1/2" Santoku Hollow Ground Knife

When it comes to your kitchen, it’s all about finding the tool that is just right for you. If you prefer a smaller knife, we suggest you try the Shun Kanso 5-1/2" Santoku. In size, it’s smaller than our 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 have told us they use it in place of a paring knife or find it to be the ideal size for cutting up breakfast fruit.

The Shun Kanso 5-1/2" Hollow-Ground Santoku is part of the Shun Kanso series. Kanso is a design principle based on the Zen philosophy. It means “simplicity,” but simplicity that is achieved by eliminating the nonessential. In Kanso, anything that doesn’t matter is taken away and everything that does matter is kept – in this case, high-performance steel, a razor-sharp edge, perfect balance, and precision cutting control. The steel is Japanese AUS10A, a highly refined, high-carbon, vanadium stainless steel that takes a razor-sharp edge and holds it longer. The handle is made of a wood called Tagayasan or Wenge, which is sometimes known in Japan as “iron sword wood.” The handle contouring enables an easy chef’s grip. Full-tang construction provides strength, balance, and easy cutting control. Like all Shun knives, Kanso is sharpened to a 16° cutting angle on each side to cut cleanly and help preserve food’s freshness and best taste.