Nachiguro Black Slate Stone: Suiseki 'Fugaku'

This is 'Nachiguro Black Slate Stone Suiseki Fugaku' produced by 'Karitani Baikan-do' in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, which produces 'Nachiguro Black Slate Stone', the raw material used for black Go stones (Kuro-ishi) manufactured at our shop.

What is 'Suiseki'? …A Japanese culture and hobby of viewing stones indoors, by appreciating natural stones placed on a wooden pedestal or in a shallow basin filled with sand. There are several theories of the origin of the name 'Suiseki'.
It is said to be abbreviated from 'Sansuiseki' or 'Sansui-keiseki' that, in ancient times, were important ornamental stones used to decorate the alcoves in traditional tatami rooms giving the feeling of mountain and water landscape.
'Suiseki' is one of the very Japanese cultures of 'the love of stones, the appreciation of natural stones'.

Nachiguro Black Slate Stone is used not only as a raw material for Kuroishi (black stone), but also for writing tools such as inkstones, brush holders, etc., and other craft products, making use of its 'calm, dull black color, comfortable and smooth touch, and texture' features.

This 'Nachiguro Black Slate Stone Suiseki Fugaku' is a suiseki that is reminiscent of Japan's representative 'Sacred Peak Fuji'.
In fact, this suiseki Fugaku was not processed into this way, but was surprisingly discovered by chance during quarrying. It's hard to believe that this work, which looks like Mt. Fuji with a large expanse of its foot, was made by chance, but the reddish gradation toward the peak and the finely carved pattern on the middle of the mountain are beautiful. Even in the long history of Karitani Baikan-do, it is an accidental product of beauty such as has never been found before.