Nishida Shirogami 18cm handmade Japanese santoku knife

Nishida san is a young blacksmith who has been working in cutlery for over a decade. He lives and works in the city of Kumamoto in Japan, located in the west of the island of Kyūshū. He thinks and creates his knives with great precision, and gives them excellent finishes.

The santoku knife is the Japanese version of the chef's knife, with a slightly more curved blade. It's a versatile tool with which you can work with a variety of foods such as meat, fish, vegetables and herbs.

Nishida Shirogami knife blade:

This 18cm Nishida Shirogamisantoku knife features a typically Japanese structure called San Maï, meaning 3 layers in Japanese. It is so named because it is composed of a rigid core and a softer alloy that completely covers it, hence the 3 layers!

In the center is a core of Shirogami 1 steel, also known as White Paper Steel #1, a Japanese alloy produced by the Hitachi steelworks (which produces a great deal of steel, and whose reputation is well established). Cooks with traditional values love this alloy because it is produced directly in Japan and worked by the best blacksmiths. These same blacksmiths like to work it because it is pleasant and easy to handle and shape. It is Nishida san's favourite alloy!

Shirogami 1 is enriched with iron ore and carbon (approx. 1.2% carbon), both of which increase the blade's rigidity and enable it to reach an HRC hardness of approx. 61. A rigid blade of this type allows for more thorough sharpening. As a result, it delivers a sharp edge right from the first cut, with long-lasting hold thanks to this steel's high retention capacity.

Despite its high hardness, this alloy is easy to sharpen using a Sharpening stone when necessary. Also, this alloy is said to be "pure" at the microscopic level: its structure is very homogeneous, making it more resistant with less risk of chipping during use!

Finally, the Shirogami is enveloped in a layer of soft iron that protects it while providing a slight suppleness to make it less prone to breakage. Note that the more rigid a knife is, the more likely it is to break, as the blade's edge is so hard that a simple shock can cause it to shatter. Having a "softer" outer layer with a "softer" material balances this rigidity and makes the whole more resistant and less likely to break.

Unlike a blade that would have been polished to a true steel finish, here the blade's finish is rough forged: it is darker and looks rustic. This finish is traditional and much appreciated by Japanese chefs, who particularly appreciate the authenticity it brings to their knives.

And for even greater authenticity, discreet kanji have been hand-engraved on the cutting surface.

The handle of the Nishida Shirogami knife:

A black Pakkawood bolster links the handle to the blade. Pakkawood is a composite material with numerous advantages: it is antibacterial, and resistant to temperature variations and humidity. The result is a material perfectly suited to the kitchen!

As for the handle, it's made from sandalwood, a beautiful dark wood that perfectly complements the rough-forged blade for a very attractive final finish. The wood is light and very pleasant to the touch, and has been polished to make it soft to the touch. Its oval shape is suitable for all cooks and ambidextrous use.

Finally, wood pulp fills the space between the blade and the handle to prevent small scraps from entering.

How do I care for my Nishida Shirogami knife?

It is highly enriched with carbon and has an outer layer of soft iron. You must therefore wash it by hand, and dry it properly immediately afterwards. Do not put it in the dishwasher or soak it in the sink. Carbon is oxidizable, so the knife will be susceptible to corrosion, hence the importance of drying it thoroughly. Note, however, that the alloy remains highly reactive, and you may observe a difference in color over time. This is due to the acidity of the cut food and the humidity in the air - it's perfectly normal! Use mineral oil on the blade from time to time, as this will do it good and help protect it from corrosion.

The entire Nishida Shirogami range is on KnifeLeader, so check out the other models!