Takamura Migaki SG2 Santoku 170mm

Takamura Hamono is based in Echizen, Japan — one of the most storied knife-making regions in the country — and has built a reputation for producing knives of exceptional thinness and precision at prices that consistently surprise serious cooks. Migaki means polished in Japanese, and the name reflects the refined, clean aesthetic of this line. These are purpose-built precision tools designed for cooks who want performance above everything else. Note that this knife is limited to one per customer.

Santoku translates roughly as three virtues in Japanese — a nod to the format's ability to handle vegetables, proteins, and fish with equal confidence. The Migaki Santoku 170mm lives up to that promise and then some. At its core is SG2 — also known as R2 — a powdered metallurgy stainless steel with an extremely fine, uniform grain structure that allows it to take an acutely sharp edge and hold it through extended use in ways conventional steels simply cannot match. Hardened to 62 HRC and clad in softer stainless for durability, the blade is ground to a laser-thin profile that glides through ingredients with almost no resistance. At 172mm with a 46mm blade height it has excellent knuckle clearance and enough flat section for push cutting while still offering a gentle belly for those who prefer a slight rocking motion. The rosewood Western handle is comfortable and well balanced in hand.

What Customers Are Saying:
Customers consistently describe this santoku as the knife that made them question everything they knew about stainless steel. Long-time carbon steel devotees pick it up and find themselves reconsidering their loyalties — the SG2 edge retention and out-of-the-box sharpness rival what they are used to getting from their best carbon knives. Professional cooks praise it as a go-to for up to four weeks of heavy prep before needing attention. Home cooks love that it handles 80 percent of kitchen tasks without needing to switch knives. Several households report it becoming the knife everyone in the family reaches for first.

Care Instructions:
SG2 is a stainless steel but its hardness makes it more susceptible to chipping than softer alloys. Use on wood or rubber cutting boards only and avoid hard materials, bones, and frozen foods. Hand wash and dry promptly after use. Sharpen on quality water stones and strop regularly to maintain the keen edge between full sharpenings.

• Maker: Takamura
• Location: Echizen, Japan
• Construction: San Mai
• Edge Steel: SG2 (R2) Powdered Stainless Steel
• HRC: 62
• Edge Grind: 50/50
• Handle: Rosewood Yo (Western)
• Weight: 5.1 oz (146 g)
• Blade Length: 172 mm
• Total Length: 300 mm
• Spine Thickness at Heel: 2 mm
• Blade Height: 46 mm
• Limit: One per customer