Japanese Natural Sharpening Stone Tsukinowa Awasedo Tenjō Suita Namazu Nashiji JNAT, 505g from Kyoto

Tsukinowa Awasedo (月乃輪合砥) Tenjō Suita (天井巣板) is a rare Japanese natural finishing whetstone JNAT from Kyoto, featuring a highly distinctive natural Namazu (鯰) pattern and Nashiji (梨地) texture.

The stone has an attractive gray-green base with large pale yellow areas and elongated dark markings. This striking natural pattern is described as 鯰 — Namazu (“catfish”). Together with the fine speckled Nashiji (“pear skin”) texture, it gives the stone an exceptional appearance and makes it interesting both as a working whetstone and as a collectible JNAT.

Tenjō Suita Layer

The marking 天井巣板 — Tenjō Suita identifies this stone as a variety of the Suita layer. Suita stones are particularly appreciated for their good cutting ability and efficient performance during fine finishing and polishing.

This specimen is described as 中硬め (Chūkatame) — medium-hard, providing a comfortable and versatile sharpening feel.

Its estimated fineness is approximately #8000+. As with all natural JNATs, the grit rating is only an approximation and should not be interpreted in the same way as the fixed grit rating of a synthetic whetstone.

Sharpening Characteristics & Applications

Tsukinowa Tenjō Suita is suitable for fine sharpening, honing and polishing of:

• Japanese and Western kitchen knives;
• Aogami and Shirogami carbon steels;
• chisels and plane blades;
• Japanese woodworking tools;
• straight razors;
• traditional Kasumi finishing on laminated Japanese blades.

The stone can be used with water alone or together with a Tomo Nagura to quickly raise a fine natural polishing slurry.

Tsukinowa

Tsukinowa-go-toishi (月乃輪合砥) belongs to the traditional Japanese natural whetstones of the Kyoto region. The Tsukinowa name is associated with the Tsukinowa-ji area near Mt. Atago.

Natural Awasedo from this region have traditionally been used for fine sharpening and polishing of cutting tools and in the final stages of traditional Japanese blade finishing.

Japanese Markings

月乃輪合砥 — Tsukinowa Awasedo
天井巣板 — Tenjō Suita
鯰 — Namazu (“catfish”), distinctive natural pattern
梨地 — Nashiji (“pear skin”), fine speckled texture
中硬め — Chūkatame, medium-hard
極上 — Gokujō, premium / highest grade

Specifications

Name: Tsukinowa Awasedo Tenjō Suita Namazu Nashiji
Japanese: 月乃輪合砥 天井巣板 鯰 梨地
Type: JNAT / Japanese natural finishing Awasedo
Layer: Tenjō Suita (天井巣板)
Pattern: Namazu (鯰) / Nashiji (梨地)
Dimensions: 134 × 105 × 13 mm
Weight: 505 g
Hardness: medium, approximately 4.0/5
Estimated fineness: #8000+
Origin: Kyoto, Japan

A particularly attractive Tsukinowa Tenjō Suita, notable for its unusually wide 105 mm working surface, slim profile and highly distinctive natural Namazu / Nashiji pattern.