Question for all those more experienced and knowledgable. This link shows a Akatsuki sold in Germany http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/prod...9C2649?lang=en . While doing a search at Woodcraft I came across this Japanese 8000 grit hone:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/202...aterstone.aspx A King Ice Bear hone. Are they similar? Are they actually the same hone, but a name change sold in the U.S.?

Does anyone actually sell the Akatsuki here in the U.S.?