This is a beautiful Karasu natural finishing whetstone from Shoubudani, Kyoto, one of Japan’s most renowned and historically significant natural whetstone-producing areas.

Alongside prestigious locations such as Nakayama and Okudo, Shoubudani has long been recognized for producing high-quality natural finishing stones traditionally used for polishing Japanese swords, kitchen knives, planes, chisels, razors, and various other edged tools.

This particular stone features a beautiful bluish-gray to grayish-green surface adorned with distinctive black Karasu patterns, resembling scattered ink across the stone. When wet, the colors deepen considerably, creating a striking contrast that brings out the intricate natural patterns.

One end of the sharpening surface displays delicate white and yellowish-brown veins, while the reverse side retains a large reddish-brown to ocher-colored natural area. These contrasting colors and geological features give this stone a particularly unique and attractive appearance.

The sharpening sensation is exceptionally smooth and gentle, allowing the blade to glide effortlessly across the surface with minimal resistance. The stone provides a comfortable, consistent sharpening experience with excellent control throughout each stroke.

During sharpening, a fine gray slurry develops naturally, providing gentle lubrication between the blade and the stone. This slurry contributes to the smooth sharpening sensation while helping refine the blade surface evenly and delicately. The stone also shows promising characteristics for producing a natural, elegant kasumi finish that highlights the contrast between the soft iron cladding and the hard steel core.

In recent years, high-quality Shoubudani natural whetstones have become increasingly difficult to obtain. With its distinctive Karasu patterns, beautiful natural coloration, and exceptionally smooth sharpening characteristics, this stone is an appealing choice not only as a practical natural finishing whetstone but also as a collectible for Japanese natural whetstone enthusiasts.

Please note that these are not for beginner sharpeners since they're harder to use. These are natural stones meaning that every single one of them are different so my measured sizes are not accurate. This is a lifetime investment for people who live sharpening their knives and tools, do not hesitate to ask me your questions.”

Dimension & Weight: 

80mm x 201mm x 11-15mm

All you can see on the picture will be included in a set of a package.


Please refer to the pictures for more details.
Please check the pictures and don't hesitate to ask any questions about the item !
Thank you.