Thread: Help me out with this stone!

I don't know the stone by the logo. Someone may be along that can tell you. The rubbing stone is generally included to give a more aggressive slurry. I've not used mine on the Japanese synthetics I have because they are efficient enough without it and on mine the rubbing stone appears coarser than the hone.

I believe that sometimes the rubbing stone is intended only for refreshing the surface rather than for providing a slurry.

Regarding the question of splash and go or soak...

Wet the top of the hone and see what happens. If the water just sits on top, then it's likely a splash and go. If the water quickly soaks into the hone, then it's a soaker. Trial and error is going to have to answer this for you.

I don't recognize it either, but I remembered that the other/older name of Osaka is Naniwa.
煌 that's the kanji that's written, it means something like glitter/sparkly, if I recognize it correctly.