The issue is that virtually all Japanese blacksmiths are backed up due to such high demand and many are also slowing down due to getting old and even looking to retire.
For sharpeners it’s much worse as they are in very low supply and high demand. Many are old slowing down and prepared to retire as well.
The demand for Japanese knives is only increasing over time as people find out about them and quickly grow a desire for the best.
Soon prices won’t even matter as it will be a 4-5 year wait to even get the opportunity to purchase your favorite knife in the first place.
While I agree with much of this, there is the flip side that the Western buyers are incredibly fickle. Buyers will go nuts over a old school Fujiyama by Tanaka/Morohiro, but the same combo would sit in a Kagekiyo. A FM flies off the shelf, but a quick search shows Nakagawa in stock in quite a few stores. It's almost like people want to just fight over what's not in stock while better blades sit in stores.