Nakayama Maruka Suita

Size (mm) / Weight

204x75x53 / 2,040g

Performance

Hardness / Fineness: 5 / 5

This piece is truly heirloom grade and is the finest example of Nakayama suita I have encountered. The stone is exceptionally clean with no meaningful flaws in the entire 54mm of stone. As one would expect, the stone is very hard and commiseratively fine. This stone is suitable for the final sharpening of single bevels, razors, tools, and any other edged instrument requiring exceptional keenness. For a stone this hard and fine, it is relatively easy to use. Feedback is smooth and predictable on steel and iron, the grit rich matrix abrades relatively quickly. With some forced slurry to start, the stones speed and feedback is unmatched. 

For polishing, the finish is bright, detailed, and uniform. Given the hardness and fineness of the stone, the amount of contrast provided on san mai construction is quite good. With a smoothed surface the stone can be made to burnish to a bright mirror as well.

Though the Nakayama mine was prolific prior to its closing, stones of this size and quality are nearly impossible to find.

Aesthetics & Other Notes

This stone is textbook Nakayama suita. Mottled kiita coloring, dense visible layers, minimal su, and no toxic lines. The Maruka stamp is crisp and vivid. 

This stone is sealed with lacquer and comes with the original retail box.

Nakayama (中山)

This Eastern mine is famous for its finishing stones, awasedo. Stone with kiita coloring from multiple strata are particularly prized by carpenters and sharpeners alike. Compared to stones of similar hardness and fineness from other mines, Nakayama stones are known for having a more pleasant sharpening feeling.