I have the Miyabi Birchwood handle knife as well - the 8" SG2 Chef's Knife. I've also had a few Shun and some high end Henkel. For me the Miyabi is the best knife I have ever owned in terms of holding an edge, lightweight, and usability. I know a few have remarked about them being brittle or hard to sharpen - They probably know what they are talking about, but I can simply say this. I've used this knife daily for the past five years and its still as sharp as a razor with only a few swipes of the Henkel sharping rod before each use.