Aokitae Blue 2 Stab Epoxy Kurouchi Santoku 180mm
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Santoku
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Blade Material: Aogami Blue #2
Blade Finish: Kurouchi
Blade Hardness: 62HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: Stabilized Birch with Epoxy
Blade Length: 180mm
Heel Height: 44mm
Spine Thickness: ~2.60mm (Tapered)
Weight: 142g
The Aokitae Series is all about giving you as much real Japanese knife performance as possible for the money. Hand-forged in Japan, it combines a proven Aogami Blue #2 carbon steel core, traditional construction, and a striking stabilized birch and epoxy handle at a price that makes it incredibly easy to recommend.
Built in San-Mai construction, the Aogami Blue #2 core is hardened to approximately 62 HRC (+/-1), giving the blade excellent sharpness, strong edge retention, and that crisp cutting feel carbon steel enthusiasts look for. Blue #2 also remains relatively easy to sharpen, making it a great steel for anyone wanting serious Japanese knife performance without jumping into a much higher price range.
The traditional dark Kurouchi finish gives the blade plenty of handcrafted character, while the geometry stays focused on performance. It feels responsive and controlled on the board, moving cleanly through vegetables, proteins, herbs, and everyday prep without feeling overly delicate.
At 180mm, the Santoku is compact, versatile, and extremely easy to control. The taller blade gives you comfortable knuckle clearance and plenty of surface area for scooping ingredients, while the flatter edge feels especially natural for chopping and push-cutting. It has enough length to handle most daily prep comfortably, without the extra size of a traditional Gyuto.
That balance is what makes the 180mm Santoku such an easy everyday choice. It feels quick on the board, works especially well with vegetables and smaller proteins, and offers the kind of maneuverability that makes it comfortable in both smaller home kitchens and professional setups.
The stabilized birch and epoxy handle is what really gives this version its personality. Natural wood grain mixes with epoxy to create depth, contrast, and completely unique patterns from one knife to the next. It gives the Aokitae a much more custom and premium look without pushing the price into premium territory.
That’s really where this series stands out. A hand-forged Japanese Santoku, Aogami Blue #2 steel, traditional Kurouchi character, and a unique stabilized birch handle — all at a price that delivers seriously impressive value.
It looks far more expensive than it is, and more importantly, it performs like it too.
◻️ Additional Information
Please note that colours, shading, and overall appearance may vary slightly between photos and the product you receive. Lighting, camera exposure, and reflections on materials like steel, epoxy, and wood can all create subtle differences.
Many of our items are handmade, which means each piece has its own character. Minor variations in pattern, texture, or finish are normal and part of the craft.
If you’d like to see additional photos or close-ups of any item, feel free to request them before or after placing your order—especially for one-of-a-kind pieces. We’re always happy to help you choose the perfect knife or handle.
◻️ Sharp Certified
Before our knives are shipped, each one undergoes a rigorous sharpness test to ensure they meet the highest standards of quality. Our BESS Certified sharpness scale will guarantee that your knives deliver the smoothest cuts.
This commitment to sharpness not only guarantees that you receive a product that's ready to perform at its best but also reflects our dedication to delivering excellence in every aspect of our field.
◻️ Shipping & Returns
Every product listed on our website is physically in stock at our shop and typically ships within 24 hours — giving us enough time for sharpening and proper packaging.
The only exceptions are custom knife assemblies or engraving, which may require 3-5 days before shipping. Everything is done in-house, so even with the extra steps, it’s still exceptionally fast.
Canadian orders can say goodbye to unexpected duties, additional customs fees and exchange rate fluctuations; all our prices are clear and upfront.
For international orders, we take care of providing the declarations documents on items from foreign countries.
We know choosing a knife online isn’t always easy. To make things stress-free, we offer a flexible 30-day Return Policy on regular-priced items. Take a look at our full policy for all the details!
◻️ Contact Us
We are at your service through email, social media, or even by phone, where you can have a direct conversation with one of our team members during our business hours.
Whether you require assistance with your existing product, have inquiries about a potential purchase, need more specific details, additional photos, or even a video to get a better sense of the product in a real human hand, we've got you covered.
Don't hesitate to get in touch.