Narutaki has long been recognized as one of Kyoto’s foremost natural whetstone-producing areas. From the Meiji period (1868–1912) through the Showa period (1926–1989), stones from Narutaki were widely used throughout Japan by chefs, carpenters, sword polishers, barbers, and other skilled professionals.

This particular stone is a high-quality natural finishing whetstone that was distributed during the middle of the Showa era, approximately from the 1950s to the 1970s. Based on the surviving label, it is believed to have been quarried from one of the sections known as No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3 Mountain within the Narutaki district. All of these quarries have been closed for many years, making stones that still retain their original period labels exceptionally rare today.

In recent years, particularly among sword polishers, the name “Narutaki” has sometimes been used as a collective term for natural whetstones from Kyoto’s eastern producing region, including such renowned areas as Nakayama and Shoubudani. Historically, however, Narutaki was one of Kyoto’s principal independent whetstone-producing districts. From before World War II through the Showa period, its stones were recognized and traded as originating from a distinct quarry area, in the same manner as those from Nakayama and Shoubudani.

The stone still retains the original inscriptions “Shohonyama Narutaki” (正本山鳴滝) and “Betsusenhin” (別撰品 / Specially Selected Grade), along with the distributor’s original trademark. These markings suggest that the distributor regarded it as a carefully selected, high-quality product.

The stone has a dense structure and a well-balanced degree of hardness, together with excellent cutting performance. During our test sharpening, it naturally produced a fine, refined slurry without the use of a nagura stone, allowing the edge to develop gradually into an almost mirror-polished finish. Its delicate and precise finishing characteristics make it particularly suitable for the final finishing of straight razors, woodworking tools, and traditional Japanese kitchen knives, where exceptional edge precision and quality are required.

Beyond its outstanding 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

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.”