The origin of Nakayam quarry is about 800 years ago.

Situated on the east side of Mt. Atago, Nakayama is one of the Higashi-mono (Eastern stones). Nakayama stones were patronized by the Imperial household, for its superior quality used for polishing swords. These stones have never been traded among the commonality between Kamakura period(1185~1333) to mid Muromachi period (1336~1573). It was at the end of Muromachi when these stones appered within the general market, although the better stones were still monopolised by the royalities, the stones with lines and odd shapes were used by the craftsmen and carpenters, and this contributed to the drastic improvement in quality of their works.

If you are familiar with Japanese natural finishing stones, I suppose you have heard of the name Hon-yama. The name Hon-yama is used by any finishing stones nowadays so it mearly means "finishing stone" now, but this name originally was the nick name for Shoubu-dani mountain. Nakayama is one of the quarry from this mountian. Honma Tou-zaemon Toki-nari has been appointed as the leader of mining by the famous Shogun of Kamakura period Minamotono Yoritomo in 1190. Thus the mountain was called Honma's mountain = Hon-yama. "Yama" means mountain. Nakayama stone is the genuine Hon-yama stone.

Yellow stones called Ki-ita, and blue stones called Asagi, is the two most worshiped Nakayama stones. Asagi stones tend to be very scratchy but the ones that doesn't scratch has incredible cutting strength.

Nakayama stones are the most famous and sought after stones among all Japanese natural finishing stones.

Okudo is called the king of Suita. One of the famous 5 Higashi-mono (Eastern stones) along with Nakayama, Shoubudani, Narutaki Mukaida, Oozuku. The fineness, cutting strength, ease of use cannot be surpassed by any other Suita stones. Next comes Suita of Shinden quarry = queen of Suita. The Kanji of Okudo is often misread as Okuden or Okudono, so if you have a Japanese friend who knows about a bit of natural stone, he might say either of the mentioned name, then you can kindly tell him that it's supposed to be read Okudo(^^)

Okudo quarry had no succesor so it was closed relatively early compared to other quarries around it.

The origin of Shoubudani quarry is about 800 years ago.

Shoubudani and Nakayama stones were patronized by the Imperial household, for its superior quality used for polishing swords. These stones have never been traded among the commonality between Kamakura period(1185~1333) to mid Muromachi period (1336~1573). It was at the end of Muromachi when these stones appered within the general market, although the better stones were still monopolised by the royalities, the stones with lines and odd shapes were used by the craftsmen and carpenters, and this contributed to the drastic improvement in quality of their works.

If you are familiar with Japanese natural finishing stones, I suppose you have heard of the name Hon-yama. The name Hon-yama is used by any finishing stones nowadays so it mearly means "finishing stone" now, but this name originally was the nick name for Shoubudani mountain. Nakayama is also one of the quarry from this mountian. Honma Tou-zaemon Toki-nari has been appointed as the leader of mining by the famous Shogun of Kamakura period Minamotono Yoritomo in 1190. Thus the mountain was called Honma's mountain = Hon-yama. "Yama" means mountain. Shoubu-dani and Nakayama stones are the only genuine Hon-yama stone.

One of the treasured Higashi-mono, Oozuku has a very fine grain, usually quite hard, and sometimes too hard and scratchy.

Ozuku had variety of stones quarried, from Shiki Suita at the bottom to Tenjyou Suita at the top. The quarrying has been stopped for decades but the rough stones that has been quarried is being processed and made into products.

Narutaki is situated on the east side just out of Kyoto. One of the closest from Kyoto city centre. From Meiji (1868) to early Shouwa (1920~1940) Narutaki produced abundance of high quality large sized stones. It is even a byword for the renowned and highly praised White Habutae (almost pure white beautiful stone) and Jizuya (*) stone for sword polishing.

*Jizuya (body polisher) is a harder stone used to bring out the wet polished look on the body of the sword. A stone used to create the hazy wavy pattern on the edge is called Hazuya (blade polisher), and usually softer Uchi-gumori stones are used. Jizuya and Hazuya stones are chipped into small sizes and polished on the finishing stone, and then used by rubbing the stone on the blade with the ball of the thumb. I use them to make Japanese cooking knives' jigane to look hazy and evenly polished.

Shinden can be considered the queen of Suita. The quality comes very close to Okudo Suita, and some people prefer Shinden over Okudo because of its mild cutting strength. It is located on the other side of Mt. Atago, thus called Nishi-mono (Western stones) or since it is in Tanba district it is also called Tanba-mono (Tanba stones) along with Ohira, etc.

Mt.Oohira is situated on the west side of Kyoto. Mizukihara is the name of the quarry from Oohira mountain. Another famous stone, Oohira, is from the Oohira quarry which is also in Mt.Oohira. Oohira quarry and Mizukihara quarry is opened at the different altitude, and the owner of the mining rights are different, thus they are regarded as different quarries, thus different stones. history goes back to pre 19th century, when they produced stones for polishing the swords.

Mt.Oohira is situated on the west side of Kyoto. Oohira is the name of the mountain and at the same time the name of the quarry. Another famous stone, Mizukihara, is from the Mizukihara quarry which is also in Mt.Oohira. Oohira quarry and Mizukihara quarry is opened at the different altitude, and the owner of the mining rights are different, thus they are regarded as different quarries, thus different stones. Oohira's history goes back to pre 19th century, when they produced stones for polishing the swords.

Kouzaki is situated in the west side of Kyoto. It was famous for its med grit stones called Aoto (Blue stone). Kouzaki Aoto is considered to be the best Aoto, but they are almost impossible to find nowadays. Recently Kouzaki's Suita is starting to receive it's popularity long after this quarry was closed. It suit modern hard steel with the stronger cutting strenght. Suita has the strongest cutting strength of all stratum.

Hideriyama is situated on the far west side of Kyoto. Closed in early 2005. This quarry produced lots of stones with even texture without much metalic lines. The price is relatively low so good for entrant users. My father went to close the quarry and secured the lock, so that no one can try to go and dig the stones and get hurt from cave-in.

Atagoyama (Mount Atago) is situated in the west side of Kyoto city, in between various famous quarries such as Oohira and Nakayama. Quarried using bulldozers after Showa 46 (1971) for 12 years until being closed. The stratum is formed as a big round ball, enabling to produce thick stones.

Located east of Oohira, North of Kouzaki, this mine has been under the control of Akechi Mitsuhide who has overthrown the famous first ruler of entire Japan Oda Nobunaga. The stones were supplied to various woodworkers and sword polishers within his district. Suita from Yaginoshima is the most famous (along with various Namito), and it has a strong cutting strength with smooth texture. This mine has been closed long time ago.