Authentic Japanese Natural Whetstone from Shiroto Mine, Umegahata, Kyoto
A rare Meiji-era Asagi (Awasedo), quarried around the 1880s (late 19th century), from the Shiroto mine, once part of the old Jingo-ji temple lands between Okudono and Ōtsuki. Hard with a pale, slightly blue-gray tone when wet. Produces a bright kasumi finish with smooth, stable feedback. A genuine relic of Kyoto's early Meiji-period transition from temple to private quarrying — one of only a handful of surviving Shiroto-mine stones.
Specifications
Origin: Shiroto Mine, Umegahata, Kyoto, Japan
Weight: 2,091 g
Size: Approx. 210 × 78 × 48 mm
Hardness: ★★★★★(Hard)
Type: Asagi (Meiji-Era Vintage Stone, c. 1880s)
Condition: Minimal natural lines, no cracks or chips. Back and sides sealed with Ishisan.
