Itoigawa Jade (Niigata Prefecture) [Famous Japanese Stone]

ITOIGAWA JADE

Itoigawa jade

Itoigawa jade is said to be the only jade producing area in Japan, but it is currently designated as a natural monument and cannot be mined.
In 2016, jade was selected as the "Stone of Japan (National Stone)" by the Japan Society of Mineral Chemistry.
In Japan, magatama have long been used as symbols of power for the imperial family and other institutions, and have been excavated from ancient tombs across the country.
The earliest records of jade being used are said to be in Japan, where it was also a symbol of power.
It has a sense of history and a beauty that never ceases to fascinate those who see it.

Itoigawa is said to be the only jade producing area in Japan, but it is currently designated a natural monument and mining is not permitted. In 2016, jade was selected as the "Stone of Japan (National Stone)" by the Japan Association of Mineralogical Sciences. In Japan, jade has long been fashioned into magatama and other objects as a symbol of power for the imperial family and other figures, and has been excavated from ancient tombs and other places around the country. Jade is said to have been used in Japan in the oldest recorded cases, and was also a symbol of power. It has a beauty that evokes history and never ceases to fascinate those who see it.