Japanese Natural Whetstone Nakayama Kiita Awasedo 790 g

An old, excellent natural finishing stone, Honzan Awasedo, sold under the brand name Asahi Tora (朝日虎). These stones were often sold in Japanese stores in the 1960s–1980s. The label confirms that it is:

• 朝日虎 — Asahi Tora (Morning Tiger)

• 本山合砥 — Honzan Awasedo (natural finishing stone from the Kyoto area)

• 特選 — Special Selection (special selection)

The Japanese man I have known for a long time and who sold me this stone claims that the stone indicated a specific mine, Nakayama 中山 and the inscription: Honzan Awasedo (本山合砥). Most Asahi Tora stones were sold with only a paper label on the box or a sticker on the stone itself. A mine stamp (e.g., 奥殿, 菖蒲谷, 中山, 向ノ地, etc.) was not always affixed. Only if a stone was purchased directly from the mine owner or re-sorted by a reputable dealer might it bear the mine's or owner's stamp. In this case, this adds value to the piece.

Excellent Shohoniyama Nakayama Kiita Awasedo. The stone itself is pure, high density, and absorbs water slowly. The stone is very fast to sharpen, yet the grain is very fine and uniform, ideal for sharpening razors. The stone has a very uniform structure, resulting in a uniform, very fine grain, making it ideal for sharpening razors, not to mention other cutting tools.

• Very dense structure.

• No noticeable karasu or other dangerous inclusions;

• The underside is a very characteristic natural bark. This indicates that the stone has been virtually unsawn and retains its natural layer.

• Weight: 790 g; Dimensions: 195 mm x 75 mm x 22 mm; Hardness: approximately Lv 4.5;

• Grit: 10,000+ (especially fine, suitable for straight razors)

• Produces a clean, fine suspension;

• Suitable for razors, carpentry tools, and knives.

There is a chip on the working corner, but it does not penetrate deeply into the stone.

This is practically no problem for sharpening—the corner can be slightly chamfered or left as is.

Inscriptions on the box and label:

品質保証 — Quality Guarantee

朝日虎 — Asahi Tora

本山合砥 — Honzan Awasedo

山城国産 — Produced in Yamashiro Province (Kyoto Region)

吟味採掘特撰 — Carefully selected during mining, special grade.

This is a high-quality commercial label of the time.

MINE: Nakayama Mine

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The Nakayama Quarry was founded approximately 800 years ago.

The Nakayama Quarry, located on the east side of Mount Atago, is part of the Higashi Mono East Quarry.

Nakayama stones were the property of the Imperial Household due to their high quality and were used for polishing swords. These stones never appeared on the market from the Kamakura period (1185–1333) until the mid-Muromachi period (1336–1573).

Nakayama stones are the most famous and celebrated of all Japanese natural decorative stones.

COLOR: 黄板 Kiita / Yellow Plate = "Yellow Plate," Kiita stones have a distinct yellow coloring and are highly prized.