Experience Japanese Kitchen Heritage with a Vintage Nihonbashi Kiya Santoku
This pre-owned Nihonbashi Kiya Santoku combines a 170mm carbon steel blade with a wood handle. Recorded as fully forged and made in Japan, it offers an everyday preparation format for the cook who appreciates a vintage Japanese knife and the hands-on care of carbon steel.
The Specs
Recorded brand: Nihonbashi Kiya
Knife type: Santoku
Blade length: 170mm
Overall length: 300mm
Recorded blade thickness: 1.4mm
Steel: High carbon steel; exact alloy not recorded
Recorded construction: Fully forged
Recorded hardness: 58 HRC
Handle: Wood
Origin: Made in Japan
Condition: Used / pre-owned
Kiya's Nihonbashi Heritage
The original inscription notes identify 登録 (Tōroku), meaning registered or registered trademark, and 木屋 (Kiya), the name recorded for this knife. These markings connect the listing to Nihonbashi Kiya without establishing the blade's production date.
The recorded brand history describes Kiya as a traditional blade and metalwork merchant established in 1792 during the Edo period in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district, associated with kitchen knives, traditional shears and cooking tools for over two centuries. This history belongs to the business, not the age of this individual knife.
The Santoku, commonly translated as three virtues, is an all-purpose format for meat, fish and vegetables. Its flat-to-gently-curved edge suits push cuts and light rocking, while the wide blade offers knuckle clearance. At 170mm, this example provides a manageable all-rounder for home preparation. Carbon steel can take a keen edge and develops a natural patina with use, rewarding careful drying and maintenance.
Care & Maintenance
Hand wash only, never in the dishwasher
Dry immediately after washing to help prevent rust
Do not soak the wood handle
Natural patina develops with use; remove active rust rather than treating it as patina
Sharpen on a whetstone, preserving the existing edge geometry
Store on a magnetic strip or in a knife block to protect the edge
Age restriction: The purchase of knives is restricted to persons aged 18 years and over in accordance with applicable Australian state and territory laws, including the Queensland Weapons Act 1990 and South Australian Summary Offences Act 1953. By purchasing a knife through this store, you confirm you are aged 18 or over.
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