This is a vintage "Akapin" natural finishing stone from Umajiyama, Kyoto. It was acquired from the long-term stored inventory of a Japanese knife manufacturer with whom we have worked for many years. Umajiyama is one of Kyoto's historic natural whetstone-producing areas and was closed more than 50 years ago. As a result, no new stones are being quarried today, making genuine Umajiyama stones increasingly rare.

This stone features a beautiful combination of soft pink and warm orange tones, and its distinctive colors become even more vivid when the surface is wetted.

Based on our sharpening tests, the stone has an estimated hardness of approximately 3.0, making it relatively soft with an exceptionally smooth and pleasant sharpening feel. It absorbs water readily and produces a fine, silky slurry with ease, allowing the user to fully appreciate the refined sharpening characteristics that only a quality natural whetstone can provide.

Although it offers respectable cutting performance, the greatest strength of this stone lies in its ability to produce an outstanding kasumi (mist) finish. On soft iron (jigane), it creates a bright, slightly whitish, translucent kasumi finish that stands out even among Kyoto's many natural finishing stones. For this reason, it is highly recommended not only for Japanese kitchen knives but also for the finishing of traditional woodworking tools such as planes and chisels.

Beyond its excellent practical performance, this stone is also a highly desirable collector's piece, preserving an authentic part of Kyoto's natural whetstone history and culture from the Showa era (1926–1989).

Dimention : 35-64mm×150-186mm×12-24mm ( Approx.) 

Weight: 582g