{"product_id":"itou-r2-custom-santoku-163mm-ironwood-handle","title":"Santoku","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSantoku with a 163 mm blade length.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe last shipment from the legendary, and sadly late, blacksmith Itou. Itou was active until the autumn of 2025 despite being over 80 years old.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe blade features dark etched nickel damascus with a core steel of SG2 (R2) powder steel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The handmade handle in desert ironwood is sculpted to fit the hand, an exciting and unique handle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSteel: SG-2 powder steel clad in dark nickel damascus (HRC 62-63)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlade height at heel: 48 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdge length: 163 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight: 174 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"37\" data-end=\"404\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eItou was born in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, in 1942. After graduating from university, he became a physical education teacher. However, his true passion was knife making, and he often considered leaving teaching to dedicate himself entirely to his craft. Each time, those around him persuaded him to continue as a teacher, and he remained in the profession until retirement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"406\" data-end=\"801\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen he retired, he declared: \u003cem\u003e\"Now I can make knives the way I want,\"\u003c\/em\u003e and he kept that promise. He spent the rest of his life creating knives freely, just as he wished. Many people make knives for money, but he only made the knives he wanted to make, without concern for business or profit. Perhaps that is why so many of his works were so distinctive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Yusui-Ito","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57775389376860,"sku":"ITO-165SA\/I","price":571.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/5556\/6940\/files\/itou-gold-IW-8.jpg?v=1780314616","url":"https:\/\/stage.cleancut.eu\/products\/itou-r2-custom-santoku-163mm-ironwood-handle","provider":"Cleancut","version":"1.0","type":"link"}