I fell in love with this Miyabi line the first time I picked one up.  Miyabi Birchwood is a beautifully hand-crafted and made of the one of the best steels for kitchen knives. The smooth birchwood handle fits my hand perfectly; and the inset emblem is an elegant touch. But the part I really love is the blade. The exquisite flower patterned blades belie their hardness, their ability to keep an edge, their gleam. What a joy. This santoku is the real deal. The shape of the blade is like the ones I grew up with. Good for chopping. Enjoy this knife for a lifetime.