Kazan Arare by Shibata Santoku 170mm (6.7")

The Kazan Arare SG2 by Shibata is part of an exciting new collection created in collaboration with Takayuki Shibata, maker of the renwoned Shibata Koutetsu line. Combining high level craftsmanship with premium materials, this hand-forged gyutou delivers the performance and refined feel serious cooks look for in a Japanese chef knife.

The blade is forged from SG2 powdered stainless steel, known for excellent edge retention, toughness, and exceptional cutting performance.  Each knife is forged by the same skilled blacksmith team in Takefu that also produces the Shibata Koutetsu knives. The blade is then sharpened, fitted, and finished by Shibata-san and his team in Fukuyama, ensuring excellent fit and finish.

The octagonal handle is crafted from ebony with a decorative Corian ring. Dense, durable, and naturally resistant to moisture and bacteria, ebony has long been favored for high-end Japanese knives for its durability, comfort and aesthetic.

We are proud to introduce the Kazan Arare collection—an exceptional new series built for cooks who appreciate precision, performance, and modern Japanese craftsmanship.

Why we love it: these beautiful knives perform like a $400 knife but at a much friendlier price.

About this shape

Santoku, which means ‘three virtues’ in Japanese, is an all-purpose knife with a taller blade profile than a gyutou. Its three virtues are the knife’s ability to cut fish, meat and vegetables. Santoku have a flatter ‘belly’ than gyutou and can be used comfortably with an up and down chopping motion rather than a ‘rocking’ type cut.