Santoku

A Santoku is a Japanese designed general purpose kitchen knife who's name means "three virtues" or "three ways," referring to it's ability to cut, slice and chop effectively. Designed in the 1940's as an intermediary between the gyuto (meat), nakiri (vegetables) and deba (fish), it's flatter heel with a slight curve up towards the downward sheepsfoot tip, allows it to be an efficient chopper in the heel with the ability to rock for a mincing or shallow rocking motion.

A santoku is perfect for a user who already uses a chopping or circular-rock cutting motion or one that wants a full sized knife with a smaller profile. Keep in mind that it's shorter blade and lower tip limits its ability to rock or slice like a gyuto or Western style Chef's knife. Also, most santokus are ground with the traditional Japanese thinness, so reserving them for soft vegetables and boneless proteins on a proper wooden cutting board will help avoid edge damage.