Shoubu Shiro Suita

Size (mm) / Weight

197x70x37 / 1,190g

Performance

Hardness / Fineness: 3 / 4-

This stone easy to use and an ideal fineness for polishing and sharpening of kitchen knives. It will work up a slurry if you'd like and refine if lighter pressure is used. It is fast and will leave a well contrasted kasumi polish. There is an ample amount of su through the stone which increases the likelihood of toxic inclusions through the life of the stone. This should not matter for sharpening but could cause periodic frustration during final polishing. The price of the stone reflects this reality. I, personally, still find this stone to be an admirable performer and good value.

Aesthetics & Other Notes

This suita has a pale cream colored base, a smattering of red renge, and many benign golden lines.

Shoubu (菖蒲谷, Shoubudani, 菖蒲谷)

An Eastern mine well regarded for its suita. While this mine may not have the same caché as Ohira or Nakayama in the West, stones from this mine are generally very high quality. Wholesales prices for Shoubu suita are some of the fastest increasing of all stones.