One of our most trusted sources handpicks these stones from the famed Imanishi in Kyoto for us, spending hours testing dozens and dozens and selecting only the best of the best at a variety of price points. These tennen toishi represent some of the highest quality you will find on the market for natural stones.
These stones are so impressive that they often make you feel like you are "cheating", so to speak - they provide outstanding results at a speed seemingly found only in stones that cost many times more, all while being fun and easy to use - they make it seem as if you have learned years of polishing in a matter of minutes. Combining these gems with the correct steel, you will come to understand the beautiful harmony skilled polishers sometimes have difficulty describing - working on natural stones with well-made knives truly ties the whole subject together.
Because each stone is tested extensively by Komon before they are sent to us, we honor their notes and grading system listed below.
We are proud to provide such wonderful pieces to you!
Stone: Shinden
SKU: 251001-shinden1
Size: 253mm x 78.5mm x 31.5mm
Area: Kyoto
Mine: Shinden
Layer: —
Grit: 6,000-8,000
Hardness: Medium
Finesse: Fine
Cutting Speed: Fast
East of Use: Medium
Recommended Uses: Kitchen knives, Japanese woodworking tools
Interpretation of the Stone: An overall very clean stone, with strong cutting speed across the entire stone. Best started with very little water, or a worn 1500 atoma plate to create a sharpening mud. If started with a mud from the stone, this shinden produces a very clear contrast between hard and soft steel. Has the potential to produce a natural stone mirror finish on carbon steel with good kasumi haze on the soft iron cladding. I found this stone best suited to single bevel knives both for polishing the kiriha as well as maintaining both the cutting edge and uroashi. Edge from this stone gives clean polished cuts.
Authenticated On/By: Ivan Fonseca 03/16/2026
