Vintage Nakayama Kiita Tomae with box

Despite being quite hard, this Nakayama Kiita from the Kato Mine is easy to work with. It is good enough to finish a razor, but easy enough to use that it is also suitable for knives. It feels softer and smoother than one would expect from such hardness. Without a nail or diamond plate, the stone will give off little slurry, but will soon show the waste metal that has been polished. Its size makes it ideal for razor work, but it is also suitable for sharpening larger tools. If your knife is well prepared, it will also give a very refined kasumi polish.

This kiita is not as bright yellow as some, but has a good colour with some occasional brownish spots.

Nakayama (中山)

This Eastern mine is famous for its awasedo finishing stones, and is perhaps the most sought after among sharpening professionals and hobbyists. Compared to stones of similar hardness and fineness from other mines, Nakayama stones are known for a more pleasant sharpening sensation and high work speed. Multilayer stone (Hondomae, Shikitomae) and Kiita are especially valued.