This is a beautiful blue-toned Suita stone from the Shoubudani mine in Kyoto. The sharpening surface displays the distinctive flowing patterns often associated with Suita stones, giving it the unique character and visual appeal that natural whetstones are prized for.

Suita stones are generally known for their softer feel and abundant slurry production. However, this particular example possesses exceptionally high density and a tightly consolidated structure. As a result, the initial sharpening sensation is surprisingly firm and refined, reminiscent of a high-quality vintage Tomae stone. As sharpening progresses, a delicate slurry gradually develops, transforming the feel into the smooth, elegant sharpening experience for which fine Suita stones are admired.

The edge engages the stone comfortably, providing stable cutting action without excessive stickiness. It delivers clear feedback to the sharpener while remaining easy to control, steadily refining the edge to a highly polished and sophisticated finish.

Suita stones are often considered easy to sharpen on because their abrasive structure is more irregular and contains a certain degree of natural porosity compared to Tomae and other dense strata. This stone, however, gives the impression that its microscopic pores are distributed in an unusually dense and uniform manner, resulting in a level of consistency and refinement that exceeds what is typically expected from a Suita stone.

The resulting finish is a natural and elegant kasumi, beautifully enhancing the contrast between the softer jigane and harder hagane steel. It is suitable not only for the final finishing of Japanese kitchen knives, but also for straight razors, woodworking tools, and other carbon steel blades. This is an excellent choice for users seeking both delicacy and sharpness in the finished edge.

A horizontal line resembling a layer crack can be seen on the side of the stone approximately 1 cm above the bottom surface. Because the stone has already been sealed, it is not possible to determine the depth of this feature or whether it extends further into the interior. At present, no practical issues have been observed during use; however, prospective buyers should take this characteristic into consideration.

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 : 75mm×200mm×45mm ( Approx.) 

Weight:  1611g