The Naniwa Chosera #800 is an excellent medium stone and a long‑time favorite among sharpening enthusiasts. It’s known for the quality of the edge it produces and for the distinctive feedback that makes it easy to control your sharpening strokes. Many users rely on it as their main medium‑grit stone because it balances cutting speed, refinement, and feel in a way that stands out from other stones in this range.
In terms of grit rating, the Chosera #800 behaves closer to a #1200 stone. It isn’t a true #800 based on JIS standards. For reference, the Shapton #1000 has a micron rating of 14.70, while the Chosera #800 has a particle size of 14.00 microns. The Shapton #1500, which many users prefer for finishing medium work, has a rating of 9.80 microns. These comparisons help clarify where the Chosera #800 sits in a sharpening progression and why it feels finer than its label suggests.
This stone comes with a base and a nagura. The nagura can be used to clean the surface or raise slurry as needed. It is a splash‑and‑go stone, so it requires only a small amount of water before use and does not need soaking.
