$200-$299

Kyokuha

The original NSK Kogyo diamond stone series, Kyokuha are built for ease of use and compatibility with a wide variety of steels from carbon, stainless, powder, even tool steel. It has a large selection of grits to fit almost every user's needs. These are the softest of the NSK series and probably easiest to learn sharpening and polishing. I

Recommended for beginners and seasoned users, or those who simply prefer softer stones.

Kyokuha grits: 200, 300, 400, ~500 to ~600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 8000, 10,000, and 16,000

Brand: NSK
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #1000

Hakuto 2

Medium hardness (harder than Hakuto 3, softer than Hakuto 1), it is ideal for blending in smooth transitions on bevels or grinding in full convex grinds (as opposed to crisp lines like a Shinogi). Ideal for advanced users.

Hakuto 2 grits: 3000, 3000S, 6000, 6000S, 10,000

Brand: NSK Kogyo Ltd.
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #6000 S (Soft)

Hakuto 3

The softest in the Hakuto series, they are the most similar of the Hokuto stones to feeling like soft, muddy natural stones. Like Hakuto 2, they are ideal for creating softer bevel changes and finishing full convex grinds.  Given the available grits are only medium to high grit, Hakuto 2 stones are best left for use after initial, coarser work has been completed.

Recommended for advanced users, or for users who prefer the feel of of natural stones that are not as hard as Oboro Knife.

Hakuto 3 grits: 3000, 6000, 10,000

Brand: NSK
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #12000

Oboro Knife

The newest NSK series, Oboro Knife was designed specifically for kitchen knives, and are very effective on a wide variety of steels for a wide variety of services. The abrasives in Oboro Knife tend to cut deeper and faster than other NSK lines, thus they are the most ideal series for full-blade servicing such as thinning, repairing, and reprofiling. Ideal for seasoned to advanced users.

Oboro Knife grits: 200, 400, 800, 2000, 4000, 6000

Brand: NSK Kogyo Ltd.
Thickness: 3.5mm
Length: 200mm
Width: 75mm
Height: 26.5mm
Weight: 740g
Grit Range: #6000