Local Production, Local Strength!!
Please refer to the upper section for box dimensions. Weight indicated is the packaged weight. Please use this as a reference for size comparison.
The grain is clear, making it excellent for workability and yield when dividing the stone. We encourage you to actually perform facing and dividing yourself to verify the properties and performance differences of the whetstone.
It contains a variety of types, sizes, and shapes. For blades you intend to sharpen, use a stone with ample size to create a flat surface. Otherwise, divide the stone into smaller pieces and use it in the same manner as sharpening Japanese swords.
It is composed solely of **first-class mineral deposits** from the easternmost part of Kyoto City, Ukyo Ward, along with comparative samples.
The Umegehata whetstone comes exclusively from Mukonouchi-cho in Umegehata, known for Nakayama and Koyama, and further from Okudono-cho, the origin of Kyoto whetstones, and the renowned Shobudani area.
This is a set that doesn’t compromise on quality, avoiding stones bulked up with filler. Genuine stones are identifiable by their fracture patterns. The stone forging was primarily carried out by trainees under the supervision of an instructor with over 15 years of experience in the Yamamoto forging technique. We believe they have successfully split, sorted, and created a colorful assortment of items, so please check the images.
We encourage you to try splitting it yourself and confirm the significant differences in physical properties, including the vibrancy of the colors. (Prepare a flathead screwdriver, mallet, safety glasses, and gloves.)
Having even one soft, reddish-pink piece is quite a stroke of luck. (Please understand this depends on the lot.)
From the genuine stone with a clear grain, a film-like slurry easily emerges.
Grinding particles with directionality are arranged on the flakes, resulting in surprisingly strong sharpening power.
The grain size increases along with the breakdown of the flakes when water supply is restricted.
The sliding between flakes is lubricated by the crushed slurry of sticky feldspar and mica minerals, creating a light and smooth gliding sensation.
Historically, it’s akin to replacing the kelp used to slide heavy stones for Osaka Castle’s walls with crushed flakes.
Excessive pressure during sharpening with too many unbroken flakes can create shallow scratches on softer metals due to the overlapping of flakes and the strong grinding power originating from Yamashiro Province.
Adjusting the pressure, sharpening angle, slurry amount, and water supply will improve your technique and significantly reduce the appearance of these shallow scratches.
It’s recommended because you can easily self-assess your skill level based on the visual results.
Early on, as you approach the skill of experienced flake users, you’ll discover that the aforementioned “kelp attack” is very helpful when dealing with stubborn stones from other regions that are hard and resistant.
It may rekindle your motivation to re-challenge previously abandoned or shelved difficult stones. Ultimately, removing unruly grain through forging is the domain of skilled whetstone artisans….
The market tends toward shortcuts in manufacturing, prioritizing thickness and size for larger profit margins, so there will likely be ample opportunities to utilize the soft, reddish-pink slurry.
・Includes one completed item weighing 311g. Size is based on the outer dimensions of the box. One item, including the outer box and rough forging stone, weighs 523g total. These are whetstones from Iyo Province and the upper-grade mines of Yamashiro Province, with miners hand-writing the names to combat counterfeiting and mislabeling. The forging shown in the images is sealed in the margin. The raw stones do not have names written on them, so please touch and judge their properties yourself. This is geared towards those with a competitive and training-oriented approach.
・Neutral and rust-resistant whetstones from Tangawa Village, Iyo Province, dating back to the Edo period, revived after half a century!! https://bit.ly/IyoMIkantsubu The outer dimensions of a 10-stone box of Higo-ori (approximately): 12 x 15 x 2.8~5.4 cm. Thickness varies. (It actually overflows and bulges.) Total weight including the box is approximately 523g. We’ve eliminated the gacha element you requested. You will receive the stones shown in the photos.
・Please polish and flatten the forging. If it doesn’t sit well, apply a wet cloth or use silicone adhesive on a non-deformable base. Mining is done with heavy machinery, and cutting is done with diamond tombstone cutters. We are not involved with products bearing the “Iyo Meito” name that are imitations or have been fraudulently inscribed. “Iyo Meito” whetstones from around 2007 onwards are made only from small-grained whetstones. All inscriptions other than the small ones are handwritten for this distinction. We cannot answer inquiries regarding “Iyo Meito” stones selected and manufactured by others.
・Siliceous shale from Umegehata, Kyoto City, Ukyo Ward, Yamashiro Province. #6,000~24,000 grit. Somewhat hard and requires skill, but has a higher probability of becoming refined. Due to the continuous circular striations, it’s difficult to achieve a mirror finish with 70% retention and an artificial whetstone grit ratio, making it easier to bring out the forging lines and contrasts due to material and carbon content differences.
・The harder the stone and the more refined it is, the more it resembles black rock juice. Hardness reduces self-sharpening, so perform regular *komakurage* (coarse polishing) depending on the purpose and skill level while sharpening.
【Voltage Compatibility】
When using electrical appliances, please note that they are designed for Japanese voltage specifications (90-110V), so if you use them with a different voltage, it may cause a malfunction.
【Plug Type】
Our products use Japanese plug types (A or B type).
Please use a conversion adapter if necessary.
【Important Note on Transformers and Adapters】
A transformer adjusts voltage to match your device's requirements.
A conversion adapter only changes the plug shape and does not adjust voltage.
Using only a conversion adapter without a transformer may result in damage to the product.
【Liability】
We are not responsible for malfunctions or damages caused by improper use, such as operating the product without a transformer.