Developed in collaboration between NSK Kogyo and Ivan Gomez Fonseca—owner of Tosho Knife Arts and a professional sharpener based in Kyoto—the Oboro Knife series is crafted specifically to meet the demands of sharpening Japanese carbon steel knives. Drawing on Ivan’s extensive experience, these stones feature a custom formulation that addresses the challenges often encountered when sharpening traditional Japanese steels, offering performance that complements what the Hakuto series could not fully achieve.

The Oboro Knife series is designed for rough sharpening of kitchen knives made from various types of carbon steel, including semi-stainless steel and traditional Japanese carbon steels. It is available in coarse grits—#200, #400, and #800—making it suitable for rough/foundational sharpening.
For finer polishing, we recommend using the Hakuto series with grits of #1500 and above. Please note that the Oboro Knife stones are distinct from the Oboro Tool series, which is intended for sharpening woodworking tools.