Jinzou Aoto #2000-4000 Medium-Fine Whetstone

The Jinzou Aoto is a synthetic whetstone that replicates the behavior of a natural aoto stone — one of the most valued stones in traditional Japanese sharpening. At 2000 grit with moderate pressure and a good soak, the stone cuts efficiently and removes scratches from anything 800 grit and up. As sharpening progresses and the slurry builds on the surface, the stone transitions toward a finer finish in the range of 4000 grit, producing a toothy yet refined edge with excellent bite and polish. This dual behavior makes it an exceptionally versatile stone, effectively doing the work of two stones in a single session.
The Jinzou Aoto is particularly well suited to single bevel Japanese knives, where it excels at both preparing and polishing wide bevels efficiently. It is equally effective on western and Japanese butchery knives where a toothy, working edge is preferred over a high mirror polish. The slurry generated during sharpening can also be collected on a cloth and used as an effective rust remover — a practical bonus for those working with high carbon steel knives regularly.
Imanishi is a Japanese whetstone manufacturer with a long history of producing high quality sharpening and lapping tools. Based in Japan, their products are widely used by professional sharpeners and knife craftsmen who demand precision and reliability from their sharpening equipment.

• Brand: Imanishi
• Material: Synthetic ceramic
• Measurements: 215x75x50mm tall
• Weight: 1508g (about 3.3 lbs)
• Grit range: #2000–4000
• Requires soaking before use
• Made in Japan