Shoubu Sumingashi Suita

Size (mm) / Weight

218x81x48 / 2,140g

Performance

Hardness / Fineness: 4 / 4+

This stone is firm without being un-friendly and an ideal fineness for polishing and sharpening of kitchen knives. It would be a functional pre-finisher for tools or razors as well. Under pressure it will draw thick slurry from soft cladding, but prefers moderate pressure to create a light grey slurry from blades. The darker lines and su are not overtly toxic (on the surface) but can be felt and you will likely have to dig a line or two through the life of the stone. An excellent workhorse suita.

Aesthetics & Other Notes

This generously sized stone displays a striking sumingashi pattern and a full layer of kawa on the back. Unfortunately there are lines intermittently throughout the stone that keeps this from being a collectors piece. Once should be able to dig these lines as they appear and still have a very usable surface for sharpening and polishing knives. With these inclusions, this stone is less suitable for carpentry tools and razors. The price of the stone reflects the imperfect nature of the stone. The stone is stamped and sealed.

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.