Akama Stone (Yamaguchi Prefecture) [Famous Japanese Stone]

AKAMA Stone

Akama stone

A famous stone from Yamaguchi Prefecture, which has produced many great people who have changed the history of Japan.
It is a Mesozoic stone called diabase tuff and is reddish brown to purple in color.
The stone is characterized by its viscosity, fine texture, and smoothness, as it contains a lot of quartz and iron.
The stratum from which Akama stone is mined is about 10 meters deep, but only 1 meter of that can be used as material.
Its history as a material for inkstones dates back to the Kamakura period.
They also have artistic value and are traded at high prices.
The Akama inkstone that is said to have been donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo still exists at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
The name comes from the fact that inkstone production began in Akamagaseki, Shimonoseki City.
During the Edo period, mining was only possible with permission from the Choshu domain, and the amount in circulation was limited, leading to it becoming a "phantom stone."
As it became necessary and valuable, it was not easy to obtain, so it was used as a gift for the feudal lord.
Even now, it is prohibited to take large raw stones outside the prefecture.

Yamaguchi Prefecture is famous for the Motherland of great people who changed the history of Japan. It is a Mesozoic stone and is reddish brown to purple of the bright green tuff. The stone quality is characterized by its strong stickiness, fine quartz and iron, and smooth.
There are about 10m of the formation where Akama stone is producing but only 1m of it can be used as a material.
It has a deep history as a material for ink stone and dates back to medieval Japan. There is also an arty value, and it is traded at a right price.
The Akama stone Shimonoseki City
In the 17th century to 19th century, it could not be mine without the permission of the Choshu Domain, and the distribution volume was limited and it became a “phantom masterpiece. Because it became a valuable article that was not easily obtained, it was used as a gift to feudal lord. Even now, it is prohibited to take large raw stone out of the prefecture.