Matsato finger hole: does it get in the way when chopping?

I actually stopped using mine for big chopping sessions because of the hole. My finger kept drifting toward it and it made my grip feel weird after a while, so I just grabbed my old knife instead. Fine for quick stuff, but not what I reach for when there’s a pile of onions.

Mine just sits awkwardly under my finger.

I looked at one in a store and the hole sits right where my middle finger wants to be. That alone killed it for me. If you already grip a santoku a certain way, a hole forces you to adapt to it, not the other way around.

Mine actually works great with the hole, no issues.

I actually think the hole is helpful, not a problem. I’ve used mine for a few months and it gives me a nice anchor point when I’m dicing onions and peppers. Never once had it get in the way. If anything my grip feels less slippery than with my old santoku.

The hole doesn’t get in the way at all for me. I’ve had mine for about eight months and chop onions, carrots, peppers constantly. It’s honestly a non issue once you’re actually using the knife.

I don’t own one but I messed around with a friend’s for a bit while helping him prep dinner. The hole thing was weird to me at first because I kept expecting my finger to catch on the edge, but it didn’t really. What got me was that I naturally choked up my grip without thinking about it, which felt odd since I’m used to holding a santoku further back. Not bad, just different. He’s had his for maybe a year and says he barely registers the hole anymore. I’m still on the fence about buying one myself. Part of me thinks the hole is a gimmick, part of me thinks it might actually help with control once you adjust. If you’re already unsure though, that feeling tends to stick around longer than the knife does.

I don’t own a Matsato, but I’ve borrowed a knife with a hole like that. The hole didn’t really get in the way of chopping, but it did change how I naturally held the blade. With a normal santoku my hand just falls into place. With the hole version I kept wanting to line my finger up with it, which felt a bit fussy for quick prep work. Not bad, just different. If you’re the kind of cook who likes a specific grip, you’ll probably either love it or find it mildly distracting. Since it’s your first santoku I’d say the hole is more of a preference thing than a make or break feature. The blade itself matters way more than that little gap.

That hole actually did get in my way, and I’m surprised everyone else here is saying otherwise. I borrowed one for a couple weeks and kept catching my finger on the edge when I got going fast on bigger batches. Switched back to a plain santoku and never looked back.