First use of Mikawa Asano Nagura

[Steve56]

Softer stones with fine grit only get but so fine. Those stones are readily available but they are not in high demand. Harder finer stones were always more expensive and always in greater demand. The most expensive Kiita were always the hardest Kiita. Softer Kiita were always more common and less expensive. Very hard Kiita were and still are very uncommon.

This is in my experience inaccurate. I have very soft kiita that are extremely fine, as fine as harder kiita. They are so rare that you may not find one these days unless you buy a lot of stones. The problem with very soft and very fine stones is that they were highly valued and used up over time. But a few remain.

It is true that if you want to source a JNat razor hone and don’t want to buy a bunch of them, the odds are a harder stone will more likely suit your purposes.