The fine edge santoku Japanese for "three virtues" excels at three cutting techniques. Expertly mince garlic, slice cucumber, and dice onions with this Asian allrounder.The MIYABI Black 5000MCD series is a true work of art. This series boasts blades of ultrapremium steel for unsurpassed sharpness. Exquisite Japanese craftsmanship merges with expert German engineering for the ultimate kitchen knives. The blades are constructed of microcarbide powdered MC66 steel, which is icehardened to an impressive 66 on the Rockwell hardness scale. This results in an exceptionally sharp and longlasting edge that is highly corrosion resistant. The authentic, thin, Japanese profile blades are wrapped in 132 additional layers of steel, resulting in a gorgeous flower Damascus pattern. Sharpening is done using the traditional, threestep Honbazuke method.The handle of the Miyabi Black series is made from the prized Bigleaf maple and dyed a black ash color. The grain and color of the black ash contrasts beautifully with the Damascus pattern of the blade. The handle is crafted in a traditional "D" shape, with a rounded spine and heel, providing optimal ergonomics for fatiguefree cutting. Handcrafted in Seki, Japan.