To our customers in the US: From Aug 29, 2025, new U.S. customs rules may cause longer delivery times, and all orders from Japan will require higher import fees (often US $80–$200 or up to 50%) to be paid by the customer upon delivery.
Omoi Santoku 180mm (With Knife Sharpener)
Ships in approx. 3 months
Includes:
- Santoku Kitchen Knife (handcrafted from stainless steel, 18cm blade length)
- Knife Sharpener
- FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
This Santoku Knife is handcrafted from premium stainless steel at Nenohi Cutlery, a smithy based out of Tokyo and Kanagawa, and features a stunning stabilized wood handle.
Its rust-resistant blade delivers an exceptional, long-lasting edge. Each knife is hand-finished by skilled artisans, creating a refined shape that reduces friction and prevents food from sticking—ensuring an effortless, razor-sharp cut. Easy to maintain, the blades retain their performance with simple care, and a roll sharpener is all you need to keep them in peak condition.
Its stabilized wood handle is crafted from natural wood infused with resin, offering the perfect balance of beauty and durability. This enhances the wood’s grain, enriches its color, and makes it highly resistant to moisture, warping, and cracking. The result is a knife handle that feels warm and natural in the hand, yet strong enough to withstand daily use in both professional and home kitchens. In addition, stabilized wood is low maintenance and resistant against mold and bacteria, making it a convenient, easy-to-use and hygienic companion for your kitchen.
Santoku knives feature a double-edged blade for balanced, versatile cutting, making them ideal for everyday use in both home and professional kitchens.
OMOI brand knives from Nenohi Cutlery are available exclusively through Japanese Food Craftsman.
The word OMOI (想) means “thought,” “feeling,” or “intention” — the inner spirit that guides the craftsman’s hand. Born from a collaboration between Nenohi Cutlery and Japanese Food Craftsman, the OMOI series pays tribute to the artisans’ deep devotion to their technique, their philosophy, their craft, and the people who use their blades.
OMOI embodies the very mission of Japanese Food Craftsman: to share not only exceptional products, but the living stories and emotions of Japanese craftsmanship that lie within them.
Specifications
- Blade Length: 180mm
- Blade Type: Double-edged
-
Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Finish: Damascus
- Handle: Stabilized wood
- Product Weight: 157 grams
*Depending on the value of your order and local import rules in your country, you may be required to pay additional import taxes when your package arrives.
Nenohi: Research-Driven Solid Performance, Precise Geometry, and Measured Quality Control.
AS FEATURED ON YOUTUBE
Watch the Nenohi workshop on YouTube: “one work, one step forward” with coupon testing, steel specific heat treatment, 3D grinding, pinch set balance, and final hardness and geometry checks.
Nenohi × japanese-food-craftsman: First Collaboration
When Nenohi’s world-renowned knife-making expertise meets the craftsmanship of Japanese Food Craftsman, an extraordinary knife is born. Designed to bring the sharpness trusted by top chefs into your kitchen, this knife combines rust-resistant stainless steel with the precision of master artisans.
Its unique, hand-finished geometry reduces friction, minimises food sticking, and delivers a smooth, effortless cut, transforming every slice into an experience of precision and pleasure.
Maintenance is effortless: with just a few strokes of a roll sharpener, the blade’s exceptional edge is restored, ready to elevate your everyday cooking into something truly remarkable.
OVERVIEW
Nenohi was founded in 1975. The brand operates a retail shop in Tsukiji, Tokyo, with its headquarters, R&D, and factory in Kanagawa. The lineup spans traditional Japanese knives, hon-yaki and all‑steel builds, and Western styles.
The NENOX S stainless series is a signature line known for keen bite and everyday stability. Every knife is finished by specialists and checked for hardness and geometry to hold a consistent standard. Production is handmade in small lots, reportedly about ten pieces per day.
Nenohi supplies chefs in Japan and abroad, with dealers in markets such as the United States, the Netherlands, and Korea.
WHAT MAKES OUR SUSHI KNIVES SPECIAL
-
High durability
Proven stainless performance: Resin penetrates the wood fibres, increasing strength. Less prone to warping or cracking. -
Water and hygiene
Stabilized with resin, so it absorbs little moisture and resists mould and bacteria. Reliable even with wet hands. -
Appearance
Natural grain meets coloured or clear resin for depth and gloss. Each handle has a unique pattern. -
Low maintenance
Little to no oiling required. Texture and colour stay stable over time -
Weight and feel
Slightly heavier than plain wood, which gives a solid, balanced grip.
Proven stainless performance
Materials are sourced to spec and heat treated, then verified with coupon testing. Geometry is set and checked in 3D so edge line, thickness, and true-ness stay on target. Final hardness, symmetry, finish, and hygiene are inspected before shipping. The goal is stainless performance that stays stable in daily use.
Why chefs choose Nenohi
Top sushi chefs in Japan and overseas use Nenohi. Output is deliberately small at ten knives per day so quality stays consistent. The team accepts long-cycle commissions and has produced knives priced up to ¥2,000,000, including builds that took two years to complete. To create a finish they could not buy, the president developed key machines in-house. The brand does not advertise. Reputation has grown through chefs’ recommendations and respect from leading knife makers.
Made for Home, to Pro Standards
A professional maker designed these knives for everyday kitchens. Stainless construction keeps care simple while holding a clean bite on the board. Geometry and weight are tuned so the knife feels steady from trimming to plating.
CHOSEN BY PROFESSIONALS
Used in service at Sushi Meino
Featured chef Mei Kogo tested the prototype in service and rated it highly.
“Above all, the sharpness is excellent. The edge glides into ingredients and leaves a clean surface, so dishes look even more appetising. The knife is light, so it is easy on the hands during long prep. The tall blade reduces the risk of nicking fingers, which feels reassuring.
The handle feels comfortable. Its coating resists dirt and stays clean. It is a versatile knife that handles fine work as well. Overall, the balance of sharpness, lightness, and ease of use is outstanding.”
Mei Kogo | Sushi Meino | Featured on MBS “Jounetsu Tairiku”
Also Trusted by These Chefs
Nobuyuki Matsuhisa | NOBU
Yasuhiko Mitani | Mitani
Seiji Yamamoto | RyuGin
MESSAGE FROM THE MAKERS
We do not treat knives as finished objects. “One work, one step forward” guides us: we review steel, heat, grind, and inspection so the next run is cleaner and steadier in the hand.
We choose materials that hold a thin, honest edge; forge only when tests prove a gain; and set heat so hardness, toughness, and stability stay in balance. Geometry is shaped to release food, balance sits at the pinch, and every blade is measured for hardness and profile so maintenance remains predictable.
We build in small lots and stand behind aftercare, thinning, line restoration, chip repair, and handle replacement. There is no finish at Nenohi; the work continues as long as cooks ask more of their tools.
