This is my first Japanese knife, but I’ve had a few high quality western knives in the past. I bought this knife on the recommendation of a few others with far greater knowledge on the subject than I have, and I’m so glad I heeded their advice. The knife is well made, and was very sharp out of the box. As far as I can see, the blade itself is fantastic. If I had to be critical, I would say the handle out of the box doesn’t feel very premium, but of course this is reflected in the price. It felt a bit unfinished, and was quite absorbent. I sanded the handle down with very fine sandpaper, then applied several coats of Tung oil to it, and this really added a lot of value to the knife. Overall, I’m very happy with this purchase, and the service from Cutting Edge. The plasters that came with it were a nice touch! I will certainly be buying here again.