Shinden Suita

Size (mm) / Weight

212x76x48-52 / 1,956g

Performance

Hardness / Fineness: 5- / 5-

This stone is quite hard and very fine but comes with excellent sharpening feel and speed. It will not generate mud and I recommend forcing a slurry to speed things up for sharpening. Rather it will rapidly build up black slurry as you work the blade on the stone. With appropriate patience and technique the stones leaves a glossy, refined kasumi on both soft clad and core steel. This stone also works nicely with carpentry tools such as chisels and kanna and is an excellent pre-finisher for razors. For tools, razors, and polishing I would not recommend forcing a slurry with a diamond plate as I've found the slurry in this instance to be scratchier and less consistent than I would like. The lines do not cause issues in sharpening. This stone gives fantastic results but is not the most beginner friendly.

Aesthetics & Other Notes

This stone has a lovely snow white base with mottled yellow and cream patterning and ample renge throughout. The stone is slightly taller on one side than the other, but this does not cause issues in use. 

Shinden (新田)

A Western mine famed for its suita. Shinden are often called the “Queen of Suita” as compared to the Okudo, the “King of Suita.” The mine has been closed for decades and these stones are increasingly impossible to find.