Hatsukokoro Hikari SLD Custom Santoku 170mm
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Santoku
Steel Type: Semi-Stainless Steel*
Blade Material: SLD
Blade Finish: Migaki
Blade Hardness: 61HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: Olive Wood with Epoxy Floral Translucide Tip
Blade Length: 170mm
Heel Height: 47mm
Spine Thickness: 1.90mm
Weight: 124g
Hatsukokoro is more than just a name — it’s a quiet tribute to the respect Japan holds for craftsmanship, tradition, and the artisans behind every blade. Based in Amagasaki City since 2013, the company collaborates with highly skilled blacksmiths, sharpeners, and handle makers across Japan, creating knives that let the craftsmanship speak louder than branding.
The Hikari Series has become one of the most appreciated lines within their collection, especially among people who value pure cutting performance. Built from Hitachi’s SLD semi-stainless steel, the blade offers an interesting middle ground between carbon steel performance and stainless practicality. Edge retention is excellent, sharpening remains very satisfying and responsive, and maintenance stays far easier than traditional reactive carbon steels. While technically semi-stainless rather than fully stainless, simple everyday care is more than enough to keep the blade looking beautiful over time.
What truly defines the Hikari series, however, is the grind. These are genuine laser-style Japanese knives: extremely thin behind the edge, lightweight in hand, and incredibly smooth through ingredients. The polished finish combined with the visible lamination line gives the blade a very refined and clean appearance without losing that handmade Japanese feel.
This particular Santoku was assembled at Kakushin as a true 1 of 1 custom configuration, replacing the original handle with a beautifully flowing Olive Wood handle, paired to a custom epoxy ferrule and finished with a stunning translucent resin tip containing suspended floral elements inside. As light passes through the translucent section, the embedded floral details reveal layers of depth and movement that make the handle feel almost alive in hand. The warmer organic tones of the olive wood balance beautifully against the cleaner polished blade finish, while the darker epoxy transition helps tie the entire piece together naturally.
The result is a knife that feels elegant, artistic, and highly personal without losing the minimalist spirit that makes Japanese kitchen knives so attractive in the first place.
As for the shape itself, the Santoku remains one of the most approachable and versatile Japanese knife profiles available. Slightly shorter and lighter than a Gyuto, it feels agile, balanced, and very easy to control for daily kitchen work. From vegetables and herbs to proteins and general prep, it handles nearly everything comfortably, making it an ideal all-purpose knife for both newer users and experienced cooks alike.
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Hatsukokoro Hikari SLD Custom Santoku 170mm
Hatsukokoro Hikari SLD Custom Santoku 170mm
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Santoku
Steel Type: Semi-Stainless Steel*
Blade Material: SLD
Blade Finish: Migaki
Blade Hardness: 61HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: Olive Wood with Epoxy Floral Translucide Tip
Blade Length: 170mm
Heel Height: 47mm
Spine Thickness: 1.90mm
Weight: 124g
Hatsukokoro is more than just a name — it’s a quiet tribute to the respect Japan holds for craftsmanship, tradition, and the artisans behind every blade. Based in Amagasaki City since 2013, the company collaborates with highly skilled blacksmiths, sharpeners, and handle makers across Japan, creating knives that let the craftsmanship speak louder than branding.
The Hikari Series has become one of the most appreciated lines within their collection, especially among people who value pure cutting performance. Built from Hitachi’s SLD semi-stainless steel, the blade offers an interesting middle ground between carbon steel performance and stainless practicality. Edge retention is excellent, sharpening remains very satisfying and responsive, and maintenance stays far easier than traditional reactive carbon steels. While technically semi-stainless rather than fully stainless, simple everyday care is more than enough to keep the blade looking beautiful over time.
What truly defines the Hikari series, however, is the grind. These are genuine laser-style Japanese knives: extremely thin behind the edge, lightweight in hand, and incredibly smooth through ingredients. The polished finish combined with the visible lamination line gives the blade a very refined and clean appearance without losing that handmade Japanese feel.
This particular Santoku was assembled at Kakushin as a true 1 of 1 custom configuration, replacing the original handle with a beautifully flowing Olive Wood handle, paired to a custom epoxy ferrule and finished with a stunning translucent resin tip containing suspended floral elements inside. As light passes through the translucent section, the embedded floral details reveal layers of depth and movement that make the handle feel almost alive in hand. The warmer organic tones of the olive wood balance beautifully against the cleaner polished blade finish, while the darker epoxy transition helps tie the entire piece together naturally.
The result is a knife that feels elegant, artistic, and highly personal without losing the minimalist spirit that makes Japanese kitchen knives so attractive in the first place.
As for the shape itself, the Santoku remains one of the most approachable and versatile Japanese knife profiles available. Slightly shorter and lighter than a Gyuto, it feels agile, balanced, and very easy to control for daily kitchen work. From vegetables and herbs to proteins and general prep, it handles nearly everything comfortably, making it an ideal all-purpose knife for both newer users and experienced cooks alike.
Original: $188.94
-65%$188.94
$66.13Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Description
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Santoku
Steel Type: Semi-Stainless Steel*
Blade Material: SLD
Blade Finish: Migaki
Blade Hardness: 61HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: Olive Wood with Epoxy Floral Translucide Tip
Blade Length: 170mm
Heel Height: 47mm
Spine Thickness: 1.90mm
Weight: 124g
Hatsukokoro is more than just a name — it’s a quiet tribute to the respect Japan holds for craftsmanship, tradition, and the artisans behind every blade. Based in Amagasaki City since 2013, the company collaborates with highly skilled blacksmiths, sharpeners, and handle makers across Japan, creating knives that let the craftsmanship speak louder than branding.
The Hikari Series has become one of the most appreciated lines within their collection, especially among people who value pure cutting performance. Built from Hitachi’s SLD semi-stainless steel, the blade offers an interesting middle ground between carbon steel performance and stainless practicality. Edge retention is excellent, sharpening remains very satisfying and responsive, and maintenance stays far easier than traditional reactive carbon steels. While technically semi-stainless rather than fully stainless, simple everyday care is more than enough to keep the blade looking beautiful over time.
What truly defines the Hikari series, however, is the grind. These are genuine laser-style Japanese knives: extremely thin behind the edge, lightweight in hand, and incredibly smooth through ingredients. The polished finish combined with the visible lamination line gives the blade a very refined and clean appearance without losing that handmade Japanese feel.
This particular Santoku was assembled at Kakushin as a true 1 of 1 custom configuration, replacing the original handle with a beautifully flowing Olive Wood handle, paired to a custom epoxy ferrule and finished with a stunning translucent resin tip containing suspended floral elements inside. As light passes through the translucent section, the embedded floral details reveal layers of depth and movement that make the handle feel almost alive in hand. The warmer organic tones of the olive wood balance beautifully against the cleaner polished blade finish, while the darker epoxy transition helps tie the entire piece together naturally.
The result is a knife that feels elegant, artistic, and highly personal without losing the minimalist spirit that makes Japanese kitchen knives so attractive in the first place.
As for the shape itself, the Santoku remains one of the most approachable and versatile Japanese knife profiles available. Slightly shorter and lighter than a Gyuto, it feels agile, balanced, and very easy to control for daily kitchen work. From vegetables and herbs to proteins and general prep, it handles nearly everything comfortably, making it an ideal all-purpose knife for both newer users and experienced cooks alike.
