Mizukihara Uchigumori Jito Japanese Natural Toishi Whetstone

This exceptional Japanese whetstone was selected and purchased by us directly from Japan, then thoroughly tested and coated with cashew lacquer on sides and back to protect the stone for long term use.
It measures 205 mm (8.07 inches) long × 68 mm (2.68 inches) wide × 30 mm (1.18 inches) tall, and weighs 1050 g (2.31 pounds).

Hardness 4
This Uchigumori is a hard Jito stone, meaning it's more fine and firm. The surface is nearly line free and the existing lines do not scratch the steel and cannot be felt. This stone is dense and firm especially for Uchigumori. This Uchigumori has densely packed Renge and orange Yaki over a dark blue base. This stone is quite hard and will self slurry a tad when honing on water only and releases some nice swarf content as well. The honing sensation is silky in texture and the stone has a unique cushioned feel. When slurried, the silky texture is amplified and cutting speed dramatically increases as expected. This stone may be capable of setting bevels when slurried with a diamond plate if one prefers to hone in that way. The stone is very grit rich for its hardness and this makes the bevel setting aspect possible. Using Mikawa/Tomo Nagura progression after bevel set yields a silky smooth and keen edge which feels a bit different than an edge finished on a harder Tomae. For knives the stones hardness carries over with little self slurry and mostly inky black swarf. The polish is amazing with smoky dark but shiny Jigane and semi mirror, white Hagane.

A photo of the stone's polishing ability on a high quality Japanese kitchen knife is shown.