What steels do you have for the gyutos? I know the westerns are in R2 (SG2?) but the wa-handled ones don't look like they have any patina going on. Do you have a preference between Tanaka's VG10 and Blue steel?
The wa handled knives are also stainless R-2/SG2 (same thing) hence the no patina. Haven't tried Tanaka vg-10 and I may never just because I'm pretty much done with vg-10 in general. His blue steel is pretty great though.
Gesshin 400, king 800 on the blade road. Then the edge gets gesshin 400 bester 1200, suehiro rika 5k, kitiyama 8-12k finished on felt with chromium oxide. The ura only touches the kiti unless I need to go down a notch or two for repain.