Thread: Tsushima "Ocean Blue" 12K

I haven't got the chance to go any further with mine yet, I've got chronic back pain issues and my insurance was playing games with authorizing my pain medication. For the last week I've been pretty much off my feet. I'll be honing up a fresh razor soon.

Originally Posted by eKretz

I haven't got the chance to go any further with mine yet, I've got chronic back pain issues and my insurance was playing games with authorizing my pain medication. For the last week I've been pretty much off my feet. I'll be honing up a fresh razor soon.

Take care of that back. I have back issues myself.

I have been playing around with a Tsushima black ocean tomo nagura on natural and synthetic hones. The tsushima is fairly new to me but I am thinking I like it, so far at least. It was Keith Johnson who peaked my curiosity with the black stone. Five sides of the stone are sealed with cashew lacquer. Here is Keith using the black ocean with a Naniwa "Snow White".

Originally Posted by lz6

I have been playing around with a Tsushima black ocean tomo nagura on natural and synthetic hones. The tsushima is fairly new to me but I am thinking I like it, so far at least. It was Keith Johnson who peeked my curiosity with the black stone. Five sides of the stone are sealed with cashew lacquer. Here is Keith using the black ocean with a Naniwa "Snow White".

I think that's a different tsushima than the one they're talking about. Interesting video though...that may be the first time I've seen someone using natural nagura on a synthetic stone. I wonder what the benefit of that was, or if he just used it to dig up some of the Jyunpaku. Didn't look like the slurry he kicked up was grey/black. But it also wouldn't be the first time I've seen a black stone create a white slurry.

Yes totally different stone. This stone is actually just labeled "Natural Ocean Blue honing stone 12k" or something like that and only mentions "mined near South Tsushima Island" for marketing purposes I think. I'm still leaning toward it being something other than an actual JNat.

I thought it was funny half way through his laps he realized only part of the razor was touching the stone and began using two fingers.
Definitely learned some new gymnastics or dance steps watching that video.

Below is the full description of the stone. It specifically states that this is a Tsushima stone quarried from a now-closed underwater mine near South Tsushima Island. It also has a Japanese stamp of authenticity. Is it possible that this information is completely false? Anything is possible.

Tsushima Island is almost as close to South Korea as it is to the remainder of Japan. At one time in its history, the island may have been a part of Korea. Maybe this should be called a Japanese-Korean natural stone. Thus, it is not a surprise that the Tsushima stones differ from stones mined elsewhere in the Japanese island chain.

As described below, the stone is very hard, very dense and ultra smooth. I have finished several razors on the stone and have been able to get close, smooth shaves from the edges. After honing, the bevel has a hazy finish that is typical of many JNATs. It may not be as good as a JNAT that costs $1200, but for the $89 I paid, I am pleased with my purchase, no matter where the stone was mined.

One aspect of the description that I do question is the "genuine full grain leather case". It might be leather, but it does not smell like leather. However, that is certainly not a deal breaker.



Natural "ocean blue" Tsushima sharpening honing waterstone whetstone with a matching nagura stone
Used for honing and sharpening knives, chisels, gouges, razors, blades, planes, fishing hooks; no pre-soaking required
Hard, very dense, uniform consistency of ultra fine grit; longer life cutting edge; high dish resistance, long lifetime
Quarried from a now closed underwater mine near South Tsushima Island, Japan; golden stamp of authenticity; very limited stock
8.0" x 2.7" x 1.0" (200 x 70 x 25mm); 33.5 oz (950g); grit ~12000 (ultra fine); comes with a genuine full grain leather case

Yes, "near South Tsushima Island" but the ad copy is not actually claiming it as what most know as Tsushima stone. As far as anyone including JNat dealers are aware, there are only two varieties of actual legitimate Tsushima stone - ocean and mountain. This stone is not either of those. Whether it is actually mined where they claim is anyone's guess. I can say with certainty that the scratches produced by this stone when used with slurry do not resemble any produced by my other JNats, which include Asagi, Kiita and Suita stones, which are all very similar in terms of scratch characteristics. Do you own any JNats?

Is it a cnat? I say that because the cnats are advertised as 12k.

I don't think they are bluish, but not sure. I've never even tried a CNat/PHIG.