While you can spend a lot more money on a santoku knife, this one is an excellent choice at a surprising price point. I do quite a bit of knifework in my kitchen and I've found the knife to be well balanced, and a perfect weight for its size. While 9" might be a bit too much for some, it's just right for me. My only complaint is that the hollow ground doesn't appear to work as well as on some of the other santoku knives I've used. This is minor for me, and to be expected without spending quite a bit more.