I love the Birchwood line. The Japanese artistry and craftsmanship is present from one end to the other. The handle is a unique piece of wood with each one being a one of a kind. The more I use the knife the more beautiful it gets. The blade is beautifully layered with high carbon steel that is sharp like a razor and is very easy to maintain. All of the marks of high quality cutlery come with this knife. I love the santoku shape for all of my chopping and vegetable prep.