What angle should I hold a Japanese knife at on a whetstone?

Most double-bevel Japanese knives are sharpened at roughly 15 degrees per side — about the height of two stacked coins under the spine. Keeping the angle consistent through every stroke matters far more than hitting an exact number, which is why a stable hand position is the first thing to practise.

What whetstone do I need to start sharpening freehand?

A single 1000-grit stone like the Naniwa Chosera 1000 covers most maintenance sharpening. Pair it with an Atoma diamond flattening plate to keep the stone flat and true, and add a 3000-grit or higher stone once you want a finer finishing edge.

How to Sharpen a Japanese Knife on a Whetstone

Q: 如何使用砥石徒手研磨日本刀？

將磨刀石浸濕（像 Chosera 這類潑水即用的磨刀石無需浸泡），將刀刃保持約 15 度角，以輕柔的力度前後推拉研磨，直到整個刃口都產生毛邊，接著再進行去毛邊作業。

A freehand whetstone walkthrough: angle, pressure, raising and removing the burr, and the stones we stock to do it well.

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Questions about this

如何使用砥石徒手研磨日本刀？

徒手砥石研磨是一項可以透過學習掌握的技能，而非僅憑天賦。請依砥石特性進行潤濕：傳統浸泡式砥石需在水中浸泡數分鐘；而像 Chosera 這類潑水即用的砥石，只需噴灑水分即可，長時間浸泡反而會造成損傷。將刀刃與砥石表面保持約 15 度角，以輕柔且穩定的力道沿整個刃口長度來回研磨，直到感覺對側出現毛邊為止。

當您沿著整段刀刃都磨出毛邊後，請將刀翻面，在另一側重複同樣的動作，最後以極輕的力度交替研磨數次來去除毛邊。計算研磨次數是初學者常犯的錯誤：建議改以觸感確認毛邊狀態，因為每把刀具與鋼材的反應都不盡相同。

Knives and Stones 岩刃社的建議：從現貨供應的蝦印 Chosera 1000 開始（或選用 400/1000/3000 的組合，涵蓋從崩刃修復到精磨拋光的全流程），並搭配 Atoma 鑽石修平板來維持磨石平整。若磨石表面已凹陷，即便磨出鋒利刀刃，也無法穩定保持精準的研磨角度。

✓ Verified by Knives and Stones · 張志豪 · Reviewed 3 Jun 2026

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