Harukaze G3 Nashiji Santoku 165mm

G3 stainless steel, often called Ginsan, has earned a reputation as one of the best values in Japanese cutlery, and this 165mm santoku from the Harukaze line is a big part of why. Harukaze, meaning windy spring in Japanese, is made exclusively for CKTG by a mid sized factory in Tosa, Japan.

The core is hardened to about 62 HRC and wrapped in a stainless nashiji, or pear skin, cladding that protects the blade and gives it a distinctive texture. The santoku is ground with a symmetrical 50/50 edge and finished with kanji engraving on both sides, while the handle is an oval magnolia wood with a black pakka wood ferrule.

What Customers Are Saying:With well over a dozen reviews, this santoku has become one of the most reliably praised knives in the Harukaze line. Buyers across experience levels, from total beginners buying their first Japanese knife to home cooks comparing it against pricier carbon steel blades, describe it as consistently sharp out of the box and easy to bring back to a fine edge with basic water stones. The pear skin cladding draws repeated compliments for its look, and several reviewers call out the steel for sharpening like a carbon steel while staying fully stainless. The one recurring critique is the handle, which a number of buyers describe as roughly finished out of the box, though most found that a quick sanding and a coat of oil or stain brought it up to the level of the rest of the knife.

Care Instructions:The G3 core and stainless cladding keep this santoku low maintenance. Hand wash and dry it after each use, skip the dishwasher, and avoid bones and frozen foods. A light sanding and oil treatment on the handle when it first arrives is a common and worthwhile step, and routine sharpening on quality water stones will keep the edge at its best.

• Brand: Harukaze
• Location: Tosa, Japan
• Construction: Hammer Forged, San Mai
• Core Steel: G3 Stainless Steel (Ginsan)
• Cladding: Stainless
• HRC: 62
• Finish: Nashiji (Pear Skin)
• Edge Grind: 50/50
• Handle: Magnolia Wood Oval
• Ferrule: Black Pakka Wood
• Engraving: Kanji Engraved
• Weight: 4.0 oz (114 g)
• Blade Length: 167 mm
• Total Length: 307 mm
• Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
• Blade Height: 47 mm