These sharpening stones come from our world-class, private collection of more than 400 singular pieces that we personally assembled from Japan over many years. I bought my first Japanese natural sharpening stone in 1976, and have been lucky to have purchased several private collections directly from the miners in Japan over the years. Some of the hones were actually used by barbers dating to the 1920s or earlier. Other stones were simply prepared by the miners as razor hones as evidenced by the size and fine quality of the stones’ grit composition.

 

Japanese tennen toishi are unique because of the slurry component and the way it can be exploited. For centuries, the clay binders that comprise the glue that holds the stones grit in place has been manipulated by sword polishers, carpenters and barbers to suit their needs and requirements. No other stones yet found will react with such characteristic and predictable ways as the natural stones from the Kyoto area.

 

It gives us great joy to share this passion and love for these incredible stones with you. – Alex and Emiko Gilmore