Shiroto Asagi – 2091 g (approx. 210 × 78 × 48 mm) | Meiji-Era Vintage Stone
An exceptionally rare Japanese Natural Whetstone (Awasedo) from the Shiroto mine, located between the historic Okudono and Ōtsuki mining areas in Umegahata, Kyoto.
This stone was quarried in the mid-Meiji period (late 19th century) — during the era when the temple-owned lands of Jingo-ji were being transferred to private hands after the Haibutsu Kishaku decree.
Many local families became small landholders, and some, like the Shiroto mine’s stewards, continued producing natural stones from the old temple hillsides.
This Asagi stone is one such remnant — a genuine Shiroto-mine relic, showing the fine, balanced texture typical of the Haku-to layer once found between Okudono and Ōtsuki.
It produces a bright kasumi (misty) finish, with smooth feedback and stable cutting response.
The surface is clean, with only minimal natural lines, and remains solid and functional even after more than a century of rest.
✨ Features
Origin: Shiroto Mine, Umegahata (Kyoto, Japan)
Type: Asagi (Natural Finishing Stone)
Era: Meiji Period (c. late 19th century)
Dimensions: 210 × 78 × 48 mm
Weight: 2091 g
Hardness: Medium-hard
Color / Pattern: Pale Asagi tone, slightly blue-gray when wet
Condition: Minimal natural lines, no cracks or chips
Protection: Sides and back sealed with Ishisan (water-based protective coating)
🔪 Recommended for
Knife Sharpening, Tool Sharpening, Chisel Finishing, and Razor Polishing.
Also perfect for collectors of historical Shohonyama stones, representing Kyoto’s early Meiji-era transition from temple to private quarrying.
🪶 Historical Note
According to Kyoto stone historians, the Shiroto mine was one of several small sites managed by local families after the dissolution of temple lands in the 19th century.
The area was famous for its light Asagi stones — pale yellow-gray with high purity — but by the late Meiji period, much of the vein had been lost to erosion and road construction (later Route 162).
Today, only a handful of Shiroto-mine stones survive, making this piece not only a sharpening tool but also a preserved fragment of Japan’s whetstone heritage.
