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Home | Kitchen Knives | Hitohira Imojiya MZ 145mm Santoku VG1 Imitation Mahogany

Hitohira Imojiya MZ 145mm Santoku VG1 Imitation Mahogany

£56.35
£56.35
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A great bang for the buck on these hand ground factory forged san mai VG1 stainless steel knives made in Seki, Gifu prefecture Japan. These convex faced blades are ground thin behind the edge giving them great smooth cutting feel and good food release.

VG1 is a stainless Japanese cutlery steel that is very similar to more well known VG10 but lacks some of the wear resistance of VG10 giving it slightly less edge life and toughness but giving it much easier sharpen-ability with excellent edge formation. In many ways it is very similar to some popular Swedish stainless steels but without the name recognition. These are finished and handled simply but definitely outperform their finish level and price.

Everyday Prep

Good for veggies and boneless protein

Avoid Bones & Dense Foods

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

Stainless Steel

Non-reactive blade.

Convex Grind

Super smooth cutting feel.

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: 145mm
Total Length: 249mm
Edge Length: 138mm
Heel Height: 39mm
Spine Thickness: 1.3mm
Weight:
Orientation: Ambidextrous

Blade Type: Stainless Steel
Steel Type: VG1
Steel Hardness (HRC):
Maintenance: Less Attention
Handle Type: Western
Handle Material: Imitation Wood

  • This is a stainless steel knife made from thin, hard steel.
  • Hand wash and towel dry after use. Do not air dry or use the dishwasher. Regular neglect can lead to oxidation.
  • 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, cheap plastics or metal cutting boards.

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

£25.89
£25.89
Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 1200 Grit Blue Marble Semi-Soft Ceramic Japanese Whetstone

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

£56.35
£56.35
Bernal Cutlery Takarazukushi 4000 Grit Yellow Semi-Hard Resinoid Japanese Whetstone

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

£62.44
£62.44
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone Stone NO Wooden Base

£44.17
£44.17
Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

Arashiyama #6000 Whetstone With Nagura Stone and Wooden Base

£47.21
£47.21
Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

Bernal Cutlery Monodiachrome™ Precharged Deburring Strop

£30.46
£30.46

VG1

Carbon (C): 0.95–1.05% | Chromium (Cr): 13.0–15.0% | Molybdenum (Mo): 0.2–0.4%

VG‑1 is a Japanese stainless emphasizing simple, high‑carbon chemistry for strong hardness and cutting performance. Around ~59–61 HRC, it offers solid edge retention and corrosion resistance with straightforward sharpening—common in Japanese‑made kitchen and outdoor knives.

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