Not sure yet whether they merit a five-star review because I've only bought one pair, but the first ones I bought are much lighter and better constructed than the generic hardwood (probably oak) ones for sale elsewhere-those often have tsuba that aren't well-attached and wobble around when you strike with them. These are strong and the tsuba are snug. Looking forward to ordering more and seeing if that quality holds across multiple items. I'd also like more variety in sizes.