Santoku

Santoku in Japanese transliterates as "three virtues" so they are otherwise known as "three purposes" knives. A santoku knife is meant to fulfill three purposes: cutting meat, vegetables, and fish. Its diminutive size and unique shape have made it very popular at home not only in Japan but in the United States and Santoku knives are considered cross between Nakiri and Gyuto knives. More and more home cooks are finding its versatility appealing without committing to a larger or more specialized knife.