{"product_id":"tsunehisa-mono-aus-8-santoku-with-black-western-handle","title":"Tsunehisa Mono AUS-8 Santoku with Black Western Handle","description":"\u003ch2\u003eOverview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tsunehisa Mono AUS-8 Santoku with Black Western Handle is a practical, stainless Japanese kitchen knife designed for everyday cutting tasks. Made with AUS-8 stainless steel, this santoku offers easy sharpening, good toughness, and strong corrosion resistance, making it a reliable choice for home cooks, culinary students, and working kitchens that need a low-maintenance Japanese knife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe santoku shape is one of the most useful all-purpose Japanese knife profiles. Its shorter blade length, broad heel, and balanced cutting feel make it excellent for vegetables, boneless proteins, herbs, fruit, and everyday meal prep. Compared with a gyuto, the santoku feels more compact and controlled, which makes it especially comfortable on smaller cutting boards or in tighter prep spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe black pakka wood western handle gives this knife a familiar full-tang feel for cooks transitioning from German or French chef knives. If you are searching for a durable Japanese santoku, beginner-friendly Japanese chef knife, AUS-8 stainless santoku, or everyday Japanese kitchen knife with a western handle, this Tsunehisa is a strong value-focused option.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Is the Tsunehisa AUS-8 Santoku good for beginners?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. AUS-8 stainless steel is forgiving, rust resistant, and easy to sharpen. That makes this santoku an excellent first Japanese knife for cooks who want better cutting performance without delicate maintenance requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e What is a santoku knife best used for?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e A santoku is best used for everyday prep, especially vegetables, herbs, fruit, and boneless proteins. It is a compact all-purpose Japanese knife that works well for push cutting, chopping, and slicing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Is AUS-8 stainless steel easy to maintain?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. AUS-8 is stainless, tough, and simple to sharpen. It will not usually hold an edge as long as harder powdered steels like SG2, but it is easier to care for and less delicate in daily use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e How should I care for this knife?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash and dry after use, avoid the dishwasher, and use a knife-friendly board such as a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/tokushuknife.com\/collections\/hasegawa-cutting-board\"\u003eHasegawa Pro Cutting Board\u003c\/a\u003e. For regular edge maintenance, stropping on a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/tokushuknife.com\/products\/leather-strop-tokushu-knife-premium-xl-buffalo-strop\"\u003eTokushu Knife leather strop\u003c\/a\u003e can help keep the edge performing well between sharpenings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tsunehisa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKnife Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Santoku \/ All-Purpose Japanese Kitchen Knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCore Steel:\u003c\/strong\u003e AUS-8 Stainless Steel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCladding Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mono Steel \/ Single Steel Construction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Migaki \/ Polished\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 180mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEdge Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 181mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 299mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade Height at Heel:\u003c\/strong\u003e 46mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpine Thickness at Heel:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.0mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandle Material:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black pakka wood western handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandle Construction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full tang with riveted western handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 58 HRC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBevel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Double Bevel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Shibata","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52655384068320,"sku":null,"price":115.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/6720\/0736\/files\/tsunehisa-mono-aus8-santoku-165mm-01_8b2ed4e7-0e3e-4c1f-bc52-c7f2d9a218aa.jpg?v=1780735142","url":"https:\/\/tokushuknife.com\/products\/tsunehisa-mono-aus-8-santoku-with-black-western-handle","provider":"Tokushu Knife","version":"1.0","type":"link"}