MIYABIBirchwood SG2 7" Santoku Knife

Incredible. Seems durable for now but I take real good care. Best knife ever.

To begin with I am not an expert on knives, particularly Japanese ones. All I know is that I tried the Misono UX-10 recommended by Cook's Illustrated a few years ago and I was hooked. So when it came time time for a birthday present I asked for another Japanese knife. I was going to get a second Misono but decided to do some research and find another brand just for variety. I settled on the Miyabi after reading the reviews of others here.First of all it is indeed gorgeous. And very sharp. But to me it does not quite perform as well and easily as the Misono. Full disclaimer, I only cook vegetarian so all my knife work is vegetables of every sort and lots of herbs. I have compared both knives extensively and the Misono is just a lot more nimble and quicker.The Miyabi is heavier although not overly so, but I do notice the difference. I am a woman with medium size hands and I would not recommend this knife to someone with small hands. The grip might be a bit challenging. Whereas the Misono is very easy to grip firmly and securely. Maybe also due to the more squareness of the handle versus the rounded one of the Miyabi.The lightness of the Misono also made cutting extremely fast. It felt like an extension of my hand whereas with the Miyabi I always was aware that I was holding a knife. Also if you look at my pictures the blade starts further down from the handle. This means that you can't grip as close if this is the kind of cutting that you like to do.The Misono stayed sharp seemingly indefinitely. If I thought it needed sharpening then I gave it to a professional to do. This is why I wanted another knife. I just did not want to be without the Misono even for a week!If I had to pick one I would actually chose the Misono but since I can have both I am very pleased with the Miyabi as a complement. It is just one gorgeous knife! FYI, once I got my first Japanese knife years ago I never touched my Wusthof and Henckels again. Why bother?

Absolutely beautiful knife. Extremely well balanced, fits well in the handle. Versatile, perfect for both slicing and chopping. This is my go-to chef's knife, in this series for about 70% of the time.

It is a beauty of Japanese craftsmanship. So lovely in the hand..and so sharp. LOVE IT!

The craftsmanship of the knife is fantastic. I also feel like the blade will hold up for a long time, and it’s edge will also withstand the heavy use I put it through. I’d highly recommend this knife, even with the hefty price tag.