I am fortunate to have several 8" Chef knives to choose to use and this is the one I rely on and consistantly pick up.
I like that it feels super secure and familar in my hand. It has a little more weight to it then other Japanese knifes yet has a very narrow edge to give me those perfect thin slices.
I recommend this knife for cooks that are wanting to try out a Japanese knife but have always used Western style knives. The transistion is easy and the results are satifying.
Easy to care for, comfortable and well weighted, stays sharp through many uses and is easy to care for.