{"product_id":"nakayama-natural-wheatstone-from-kyoto-kato-mine-1","title":"Nakayama Awasedo (Finishing Whetstone), ※Koppa (Compact) Size 460g from Kato Mine, Kyoto","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eNakayama Awasedo, ※ Koppa (Compact) Size 460g, Kato Mine, Kyoto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNakayama, located in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUmegahata, Kyoto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, is one of the most prestigious names in Japanese natural finishing whetstones. The history of whetstone quarrying in this area is traditionally traced back to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKamakura period (1185–1333)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, when fine finishing stones were closely associated with Japan’s imperial court, warrior class, and the craftsmen responsible for producing and maintaining important blades.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn later generations, Nakayama became particularly associated with the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKato Mine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose Awasedo earned an exceptional reputation among professional sharpeners and craftsmen for their fine abrasive quality, distinctive feedback, and ability to produce highly refined edges and finishes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter a long interruption, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enew extraction has recently resumed at Nakayama\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This stone is from that newly quarried material, which has been highly regarded for exhibiting \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ematerial and sharpening characteristics remarkably consistent with Nakayama stones from the mine’s earlier period of operation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA continuation of Kyoto’s centuries-old whetstone tradition — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enewly quarried from Nakayama, yet carrying the character that made the name renowned for generations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach stone is naturally formed and unique. The hardness, texture, color, and sharpening characteristics may vary from stone to stone, making every piece an individual whetstone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarefully selected in Japan and suitable for sharpening and finishing high-quality Japanese knives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003ecompact\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-sized Nakayama Awasedo from the Kato Mine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e offers an accessible way to experience the character of this renowned Kyoto natural stone. Its compact size makes it more affordable than a full-sized whetstone while remaining highly practical for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esmall blades, fine edge work, and final-stage sharpening\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It is also an attractive size for collectors of Japanese natural whetstones.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne particularly recommended use is for applying a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003emicro-bevel (Ito-ba)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at the final stage of sharpening. A full-sized stone is not really necessary for this delicate edge work; this compact surface provides ample working area and allows precise control, producing a clean, refined micro-bevel with the distinctive finishing character of a Japanese natural whetstone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompact in size, yet fully capable of expressing the character of Nakayama Awasedo.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Origin: Nakayama, Kato Mine, Kyoto, Japan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Type: Natural Japanese finishing stone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Weight: 460g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Size: (approx) 134×45×30mm \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Stone No.: [N-019]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease note:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e This is a natural stone. Variations in color, texture, layers, and surface are natural characteristics and are not considered defects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe dimensions are approximate and may vary slightly across the stone. The shape is not perfectly uniform, with some areas being longer or shorter than others.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNatural Stone Base \u0026amp; Preparation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs this is a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003enatural whetstone, the original dark outer skin on the underside has intentionally been left intact\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf the stone does not sit securely or rocks during use, lightly flatten only the necessary high points on the underside with a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewhetstone flattener or diamond plate\u003c\/span\u003e until the stone sits stable. \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eAlternatively, the stone may be mounted to a wooden base with a suitable adhesive for greater stability during sharpening.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe do not recommend completely removing the natural skin unless necessary. The remaining skin, geological features, and appearance of the stone can provide valuable clues when assessing its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eorigin, geological layer, and individual character\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. They are also part of the identity of each natural stone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor this reason, we recommend preserving as much of the original underside as possible and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflattening only what is necessary for the stone to sit securely and safely during use\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShould you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YAMANI SHODOSHIMA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46433103446202,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0694\/6750\/4826\/files\/82F8DF33-A672-4626-8011-36D808F6278D.jpg?v=1787496987","url":"https:\/\/yamani-shodoshima.com\/products\/nakayama-natural-wheatstone-from-kyoto-kato-mine-1","provider":"YAMANI SHODOSHIMA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}