Shigeki Tanaka 165mm Santoku VG10 Damascus Review: A Low-Stress Kitchen Workhorse

Introduction

The santoku is one of the most approachable Japanese knife shapes, and the 165mm Shigeki Tanaka santoku from the VG10 line is our favorite example of it. It earns that spot for a simple reason: it pairs genuinely high cutting performance with the kind of low-stress ownership that makes it easy to reach for every single day.

While carbon steel knives often lead on edge retention, cutting feel, and sharpening response, they also demand attention. If you have knives you baby, there are inevitably evenings when you just do not want to think about the knife you are using. That is exactly where this one fits.

Why This Santoku Stands Out

When shopping for a santoku, the priorities are usually easy maintenance, reasonable cost, and performance that does not disappoint. This knife checks all three. It is stainless, so there is no need to wipe it down immediately after every cut, and it sits among the more affordable options in its finish category despite the damascus cladding.

Some people dismiss VG10 as a lesser stainless steel, and that criticism is hard to defend. VG10 is a stainless cutlery steel made specifically for kitchen knives, so it brings the properties you want in a good knife steel: good edge retention, relatively easy sharpening, and rust resistance. The unfavorable opinions usually come down to its sheer popularity, which means some makers extract more from the steel than others. With a smith of Shigeki Tanaka’s reputation, you get a top-notch VG10 knife.

Blade Design and Finish

In terms of geometry, this knife is fairly average in blade height, and the belly is not especially curvy or especially flat. That middle ground contributes to a pleasant cutting feel and a comfortable sense of control in the hand.

The grind is the real standout. It is not particularly thin at the spine, which gives the knife a sturdy character rather than a delicate one, yet it is notably thin behind the edge. That combination means the blade handles intricate work beautifully while still having enough body for confident tasks.

The damascus finish deserves a mention too. It contributes nothing to cutting performance, and it is honest to say so, but it remains a genuinely beautiful touch on a knife that is one of the more affordable options in the lineup. You are getting real visual appeal without paying a premium for it.

Fit and Finish

The handle is a walnut octagonal shape with a black pakka wood ferrule. The craftsmanship here is top notch: there are no gaps between the tang and the handle, and the transition between the ferrule and the handle is clean, with no gaps, bumps, or spaces anywhere along it.

The only extra is a small sticker on the blade, which you can remove or keep depending on preference. For hygienic reasons, removing it is the sensible choice.

Everyday Cutting Performance

This is where the knife really earns its keep. Being thin behind the edge, it excels at the fine work: shallots, garlic, and anything in the allium family cut with real ease thanks to the nicely thin tip. At the same time, the thicker spine means you do not have to baby it. Crushing a clove of garlic is completely within its comfort zone.

Onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, slicing a chicken breast or a steak, the occasional salmon fillet: all of this is well within its capabilities. The limitation is the shape itself. As a santoku, the blade is on the shorter side, so larger vegetables and bigger slicing tasks can feel a bit constrained.

For a quick weeknight dinner, when you want to chop a pile of vegetables without lingering in the kitchen or fretting over your knife, this is the one to grab. It is stainless, it performs, and it asks nothing of you in return.

Buying Advice

Choose this knife if you want a high-performing Japanese santoku without the maintenance ritual of carbon steel. It makes particular sense as a companion knife for cooks who own finer carbon blades but need a dependable everyday option, or as a first serious Japanese knife for someone who values ease of care. If you regularly break down large vegetables or need long slicing reach, a longer blade shape may serve you better.

Conclusion

The 165mm Shigeki Tanaka santoku in VG10 damascus combines relative affordability, easy maintenance, and very high performance in one attractive package. It is a knife you can use without worry and still enjoy every time it comes out of the drawer, and that balance is exactly what makes it our favorite santoku.