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Home | New Arrivals | Hitohira Tanaka Ren 180mm Santoku Shirogami 2 Ho Wood

Hitohira Tanaka Ren 180mm Santoku Shirogami 2 Ho Wood

$449.78
$449.78
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READ IMPORTANT DELIVERY OPTION INFORMATION

Smithed by Yoshikazu Tanaka, a top level ‘Dentokougeshi’ blacksmith in Sakai City, Osaka. Tanaka Hamono coaxes excellent edge retention and toughness from Shirogami 2 with a smooth easy sharpening feel.




About This Knife

Everyday Prep

Good for veggies and boneless protein

Avoid Bones & Dense Foods

If you can't bite it, don't cut it.

Carbon Steel

Reactive blade.

Thin Grind

Particularly thin grind. Use with intention.

Ambidextrous

Suitable for all users.

Santoku

Santoku means "three virtues," referring to its versatility with meat, fish, and vegetables. It has a shorter, wider blade than a gyuto with a flat edge and slight curve that excels at chopping and low mincing. Ideal for home cooks due to it's smaller size range for general prep across a range of ingredients.

Listed Length: 165mm
Total Length: 320mm
Edge Length: 173mm
Heel Height: 46mm
Spine Thickness: 2.3mm
Weight:
Orientation: Ambidextrous

Blade Type: Carbon Steel
Steel Type: Shirogami 2 (White Paper #2)
Steel Hardness (HRC):
Reactive: More Attention
Handle Type: Japanese (wa)
Handle Material: Ho Wood & Buffalo Horn Ferrule Octagonal

  • This is a carbon steel knife made from thin, hard steel.
  • Hand wash and towel dry after use. Do not air dry or place in the dishwasher.
  • Expect oxidation (color change, staining, spotting) with use.
  • Prolonged exposure to moisture or food debris will cause rust; remove any rust with a light abrasive.
  • Remove surface rust gently with a mild abrasive and progress to more aggressive abrasives if needed. Coarse abrasives will leave scratches in most finishes.
  • Avoid twisting, scraping, or use on dense or hard foods and surfaces to avoid early dulling and edge damage. If you wouldn't bite into it, don't cut it with this knife.
  • Use on wooden cutting boards only. Do not use bamboo, plastic, stone or metal cutting surfaces.

Dive Deeper

Medium-Fine finish - Japanese

We recommend sharpening by hand using whetstones starting around 1000 grit progressing to at least 4000 for this steel type and edge geometry. Finish with a monodiachrome strop for a smooth cut with a substantial bite. Finer finishes are possible, but the knife may slide on smooth foods and overall edge retention may suffer. During repair, use a super coarse stone to pass chips quickly to help keep flat bevels.

  • Avoid pull-through sharpeners and non-water-cooled mechanized systems.
  • Strops and ceramic honing rods are preferred for as-needed edge maintenance. If you have to use a honing rod to be able to use the knife comfortably, it's time to sharpen the knife.

Sharpening Supplies

Stones & Accessories selected specifically for this knife.

Arato-kun #220 Extra Coarse Grit Whetstone

Arato-kun #220 Extra Coarse Grit Whetstone

$48.39
$48.39
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Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 1200 Grit Blue Marble Semi-Soft Ceramic Japanese Whetstone

Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 1200 Grit Blue Marble Semi-Soft Ceramic Japanese Whetstone

$105.33
$105.33
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Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 4000 Grit Yellow Semi-Hard Resinoid Japanese Whetstone

Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 4000 Grit Yellow Semi-Hard Resinoid Japanese Whetstone

$116.71
$116.71
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

$82.55
$82.55
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

$88.25
$88.25
Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

$56.93
$56.93



Shirogami 2 (White Paper #2)

Carbon (C): 1.05–1.15%| Manganese (Mn): 0.2–0.3%| Phosphorus (P/S): trace

White 2 is a slightly lower|carbon variant (~1.05–1.15% C) offering better toughness and ease of sharpening. Common in Japanese kitchen knives, it reaches ~61–63 HRC and provides a clean, crisp edge. It’s reactive but widely loved for its balance between hardness and maintainability.