NaniwaNA-0040 New Arata Professional Rough Whetstone #400 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches (210 x 70 x 15 mm)

This stone is a smaller version of the Chosera. It cuts at a medium speed(IMO) and leaves a very polished finish for a 1k. It will load slightly over time, but it dishes very slowly. You can easily finish on this stone and have a superb edge. I imagine this stone will last me forever. Also, these Gouken Arata stones are much easier to store and move around being thinner and not having the bulky base attached. I love them

Great stone. Amazon shipped it in an ENVELOPE WITH ANOTHER STONE, so it was damaged upon receipt. It absolutely blows my mind that a sharpening stone that weighs almost a Kg, or about 1 1/2 pounds is shipped with another one of a different grit in a freaking soft envelope. In the same week I get a small plastic chainsaw part about the size of a quarter that is in a plastic envelope, inside a small box, inside a shoebox sized box filled with inflatable packing balloons. Amazing, no it's Amazon.

Awesome stone, this is my first naniwa stone and I can see now why the make a big deal out of it. Cuts fast, dosen't load up and leaves a good edge on the knife. The stone is supposed to be a wet and go stone, but it needs a quick 1min soak in water,but no big deal still a Awesome stone.

I've heard a lot of people recommend 400 or 800, so I went for the middle. Already it cuts fast enough to fix a tiny chip from a white #2 knife and the edge it leaves is sharper than anything from factory. It raises slurry very well and isn't sloppy by any means. It also looks so delicious, such pretty deep blue.

These stone are great stones, the three stones all had broken cases when they arrived. I believe the shipping and handling was poorly executed. Maybe it was Amazon delivery????

This is very nice and I am enjoying it. It makes a nice surry and I like that.

These are the same stones. Appears 100% authentic. Feedback is identical. Size and features are identical. The only difference is the box, and the chosera had a base. Shipped no problem, but can definitely use better padding. These ARE splash and go. Even shapton stones absorb some water. You would never see a bead on a soaking stone.The main thing to consider this stone is slightly less than half the size. Meaning double the price and ask if it's a better deal than the chosera.

I was happy that my order arrived a week early but disappointed to see that it came damaged. one side of the case was completely busted off with a crack down the spine and the corner of the stone was chipped off. I don't know if I should try and get it replaced or not. Since it's a Christmas present I wont know how well it works for another week. I guess I'll update my review after I've used it.