Nakayama Tomae

* more pictures coming soon

Size (mm) / Weight

198x78x44 / 1,570g

Performance

Hardness / Fineness: 5- / 5

This stone is hard and extremely fine. Yet, it is knife friendly and quite quick with a very pleasant sharpening feel. A true no-compromises finishing stone. One of the absolute best ultra-fine stones I have ever used. This stone is suitable for every finishing task from razors to knife polishing. There is no upgrading from this stone except for chasing marginal size increases. 

Aesthetics & Other Notes

This stone displays a deep kiita coloring and pale striations on the sides that are representative of this layer of tomae. Very clean with no lines or inclusions other than on the bottom 1mm or so. Great shape but some small missing pieces at two of the corners.

The stone is sealed.

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. All authentic stones bearing the famous Maruka stamp are from Nakayama.