I love Miyabi knives. I own a couple from the Birchwood line. I wanted to try one of the knives from the Black line, and this one seemed like a good one to round out my collection.  I have smaller hands, thus the 5.5-inch Santouku works very well for me. Nice, sharp blade  that feels amazingly solid. Highly recommend for those who are looking for a workhorse with a smaller footprint that doesn't overpower smaller hands.