. . .comes from the illustrious Japanese Water stone.

I jumped on a dull (not super dull, dull as in won't cut my grizzly beard) razor with the Jap-Wa-Stoney 1000 grit and then graduated to just a 4000, and wouldn't you know, that thing's as sharp as when old Kenrup handed it to me (maybe sharper, but I don't wanna 'split hairs'.

Word to the wise- - the Japanese know steel.