Bunka
Bunka Blue Steel #2 Kurouchi Bubinga 165mm
¥20,363
Santoku
Material
Blue Steel #2
Length
165mm
Origin
—
Finish
Kurouchi
Description
A Santoku in Blue Steel #2 with a kurouchi finish, a stabilized wood handle, and a 165mm blade.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Blade Type
Santoku
Blade Material
Blue Steel #2
Blade Length
165mm
Blade Finish
Kurouchi
Safer, user-friendly for beginners; compact for small kitchens.
Shorter, taller blade; “three virtues” = meat/fish/vegetables.
QUALITATIVE SPECIFICATIONS
三徳 ⎯ SANTOKU ⎯ ALL-PURPOSE HOME KNIFE
Overview
The santoku is Japan's everyday kitchen knife. Shorter and lighter than a Western chef's knife, the 165–180mm blade handles meat, fish, and vegetables with equal competence — that's what the name means: three uses. Flat edge profile, minimal knuckle clearance, forward tip. Built for push cuts and chopping, not rocking. The knife most Japanese home cooks reach for first.

Beginner-friendly
A natural entry point into Japanese kitchen knives. The geometry is approachable, the cutting motion is intuitive, and the learning curve is short. No prior knife experience required to get real results. Start here, build from here.
Easy to handle
Balanced for a natural grip from the first use. Light enough to follow the hand without fighting it, compact enough to stay in control through extended prep. The knife adapts to your technique, not the other way around.

Perfect for smaller kitchens
A compact blade that works within the space you actually have. Fits standard home cutting boards, stores without dominating the block or drawer. No sacrifice in function — just a format scaled for real-world kitchens.
Lightweight
Less steel means faster movement and lower fatigue across long prep sessions. The lightweight build keeps the hand fresh when the work runs long. Built to move, not to sit.
MAINTENANCE AND CARE
After each use, wash the knives promptly and dry it thoroughly to bid farewell to any lingering moisture.
Treat the knives with love by avoiding dishwashers. Hand-wash it with care, ensuring its longevity.
Steer clear of bones or frozen food to protect the edge from chipping.
Wooden cutting boards are highly recommended as they are gentle on the blade. They help preserve sharpness and extend the knife’s life.
ZAKU Knives are meticulously hand-crafted in Japan by skilled, generational artisans across Sakai, Seki, and Echizen regions.
Sakai proudly produces nearly all blades trusted by elite professional chefs, ensuring top-tier kitchen performance.
We honor centuries of heritage by sharing authentic Japanese forging techniques with culinary enthusiasts worldwide.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The first key point in choosing a knife is what you cook and how you cut.
Knives come in many shapes and sizes. Choosing the right one for your cooking style greatly improves comfort and cutting performance.
The best knife is the one that feels right to you—The one you actually want to pick up and use. While performance varies slightly, your choice is primarily about personal style, comfort, and maintenance habits.
We currently accept payments via PayPal and all major credit cards. All transactions are processed through our secure checkout, and we ensure that your details are never shared with third parties.
Prepaid gift cards and debit cards can also be used, but please note that they may occasionally encounter issues during approval, such as expiration dates or insufficient balances. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that prepaid cards, even those with a Visa logo, will always be approved. We recommend checking the balance of your prepaid card before enrolling if it’s your chosen payment method.
We recommend double-checking your country’s customs regulations before placing your order. Customs fees and taxes vary from country to country, so it’s important to be aware of your local rules. If you are charged any customs fees or taxes, please note that we are not responsible for covering these costs. These charges are determined by your local government, and unfortunately, we do not have control over the import taxes or customs procedures.
Choosing a steel type is less about “sharpness” (both can be razor-sharp!) and more about your lifestyle. Generally, stainless steel is easy maintenance, and carbon steel is easy to sharpen.
All orders placed with us are typically processed within 72 hours (3 business days). Please note that processing time is separate from the shipping method you select and does not affect the estimated delivery time.
If, for any reason, we are unable to prepare your order for shipping within 72 hours, we will notify you via email with an update. Additionally, please be aware that Japanese holidays do not count as business days, as most businesses and services are closed during these periods.
Please note that certain natural characteristics of handcrafted products are not considered defects. We do not accept returns or exchanges for any reason related to customer preference.
Visit our FAQ page for a more detailed breakdown of our warranty and return policies.