Octopus Stone (Inujima Stone) <Okayama Prefecture> [Famous Stones of Japan]

Octopus Stone

Octopus stone (Inujima stone)

This stone has a long history and was named after the fact that its surface resembles an octopus.
Larger rough stones also have suction cup-like patterns.
Inujima, where the stone is produced, was once known as a source of high-quality, large stones, and Inujima stone was used in the largest stone wall of Osaka Castle, which was built in 1624 by Ikeda Tadao of the Bizen Ikeda domain as a show of prestige.
Its surface area is 36 tatami mats, its height is 5.5m, its width is 11.7m, and its total weight is 108g.
It's amazing that it was transported by sea from the Seto Inland Sea to Osaka Castle.
The grain is coarse and has a simple taste.

A stone with a long history, named after its stone skin that look like an octopus. Large gemstone also has a sucker-like pattern.
Inu Island, the locality of production, was once known as a place of good quality and huge stones.
Octopus stone was also used for the largest stone wall in Osaka Castle, which was built by the prestige of Tadakatsu Ikeda in the Bizen Ikeda feudal clan in 1624. It has 5.5m high for11.7m wide, and has a total weight of 108t.
It is so impressive that they take that large stone by ship from Seto Island Sea and carry it to Osaka Castle.