[20% off February birthstones only until January 31st (automatic discount at checkout)] [Japanese Famous Stones] 47 Prefectures Japanese Famous Stone Strap [ac-g5002]

◇What is "Vermillion Obsidian (Red Tokachi Stone)"?

Obsidian was created approximately 1.5 million years ago by intense volcanic activity in Mount Daisetsu.
It has long been used to make tools such as arrowheads and knives.
As it flows through the river, the outside becomes scratched and whitish, but some of it has a faint, pitch-black glassy appearance visible from the outside.
Among them, the red ones are called vermilion obsidian locally and are now rare.

◇What is "KUGURIZAKA Stone"?

This stone is mined near Kugurizaka in Aomori Prefecture.
The name of this place has a story behind it, and it is recorded in the travelogue of Sugae Masumi dated July 7, 1788 (Tenmei 8), and it was named "Kugurizaka" because when passing through here, one had to crawl through between large rocks.
Oshu, where Kugurizaka is located and faces Mutsu Bay, is a historic place that appears in the Azuma Kagami (Mirror of the Adzuma) from the Kamakura period and is also known as the site of the Oshu War.
The local Inari Shrine is the guardian deity of Kugurizaka, and as herring fishing was popular here, many water-related gods are enshrined here, including Benzaiten, who prays for safe shipping and bountiful catches.

◇What is "HIMEKAMI KOSAKURA Stone"?

A story set in Japan 1,300 years ago.
Shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro marches into eastern Japan.
At that time, the Eboshi Shrine Maiden was enshrined on Mount Himekami in Iwate Prefecture.
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro is famous for possessing the legendary Japanese sword "Onikirimaru."
Tamuramaro fought against Tateeboshi no Miko at Onikirimaru, and she later became a princess deity who protected Tamuramaro.
There is also a myth that Mt. Iwate and Mt. Himekami, the two largest mountains in Iwate Prefecture, were married.
Himegami Kozakuraishi is a granite that makes up the entire Mount Himegami.
The bronze statue of Nitobe Inazo in front of Morioka Station is also made of Himegami Kozakura stone.
Nitobe Inazo was a Japanese thinker and author of the widely read book "Bushido."

◇What is "HAKUCHI Hexagonal stone"?

It is an intrusive rock made of amphibole dacite, formed when lava solidified underground and jointed into pentagonal or hexagonal columns (columnar jointing) that emerged from the ground.
When mined, it is a light blue color, but because it contains iron, it rusts and turns reddish over time.
Because of its unusual shape, it has been placed in gardens as an object of art and has been loved for many years.
Hexagonal stone can only be obtained from limited locations in Japan, and most of the locations cannot be mined due to environmental protection reasons.
In Japan, the same structure can be seen in Genbudo Cave in Hyogo Prefecture and Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture.

◇What is "CHOKAI Stone"?

Mount Chokai, where it is produced, is located on the border between Yamagata and Akita prefectures and is also known as Dewa Fuji.
It was the northernmost point under the Yamato government, and is said to be the home of Omonoimi-no-Kami, as well as Tenagaashinaga, a deity imported from China.
Tenagaashinaga are two monsters, one with long arms and the other with long legs, and while there are shrines dedicated to them as gods of eternal youth and longevity, they are also said to attack people, and there is a legend that when a three-legged bird (the Yatagarasu) finds them, it will warn people.
It was depicted by famous ukiyo-e artists such as Utagawa Kuniyoshi, and Sei Shonagon wrote in her Pillow Book that "a painting of the long-armed, long-legged creature was displayed in the Seiryoden Hall."
It contains quartz and feldspar and is a very interesting stone when observed under a microscope.

◇What is "Kizan Stone"?

Kiyama stone is a granite type stone quarried in Shibayama in the Kamisasaka district, which straddles Iwaki City and Hirata Village in Fukushima Prefecture.
Its weather-resistant, hard, and shining beauty has captivated people.
Kiyama stone has a beautiful surface that is like silk.
No other granite like this is found in the Hokuriku region, demonstrating just how special Fukushima Prefecture's geology is.
Its main components are quartz, feldspar, and biotite, and one of its charms is that when exposed to sunlight, the sparkling biotite appears to float on the surface of the stone.

◇What is "Yasato Cloud Dragon Stone"?

Yago Unryu stone is a type of granite mined from Mount Kaba in Ishioka City (formerly Yago Town), Ibaraki Prefecture.
With over 700 places of worship, the mine is said to be home to gods.
Yago Unryu Stone is considered a sacred stone that is part of the mountain.
It is used as building materials for the State Guest House, the Bank of Japan, the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry of Justice.
The name comes from the cloud-like pattern in a sumi-e painting of a dancing dragon.

◇What is "Nikko Stone"?

It is also called "Nikko Stone" because it is a stone on the Nikko Kaido road that leads to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined as Tosho Daigongen.
It is famous that Frank Lloyd Wright used this stone in the design and construction of the former Imperial Hotel.
It is a type of tuff, soft and easy to process, but has many bubbles and a beautiful lava-like taste.
It was formed when volcanic ash and gravel sank into the ocean and recrystallized during a volcanic eruption in the early Cenozoic era, approximately 23 million years ago. It contains zeolite and many other components on the ocean floor, and is said to have the ability to purify water and release multiple minerals. It is also attracting attention as a stone that can improve soil and water quality, and has a positive effect on the body.

◇What is Gunma Sazare Stone (calcareous breccia)?

The word "Sazareishi" appears in the Japanese national anthem, "Kimigayo" (Your national anthem) - "For a thousand generations and eight thousand generations, until pebbles become rocks and moss grows on them."
"Until the pebbles become rocks and moss grows on them" refers to a long period of time until "small stones become large rocks and moss grows on them."
Pebbles are large rocks that have formed over a long period of time when small pebbles and sand have bonded together with calcium carbonate and iron hydroxide, filling the gaps between them.
This process occurs when limestone loses its components due to rain or other factors, causing it to grow larger while incorporating small grains of sand and stone.

◇What is "Ryoshinseki"?

Mount Ryokami, one of the three Chichibu mountains, has been an object of worship since ancient times.
There are several theories about the origin of the name, including one that it is named after the two gods Izanagi and Izanami, and another that it is called "Dragon God Mountain" because the dragon god lives there, but either way, it is clear that it is a mountain where gods live.
The rocks of Mt. Ryokami are very hard and are known as a mountain composed mainly of chert.
Chert is formed by the accumulation of fossils such as radiolarians, indicating that this area was once a sea.

◇What is "KYONAN Stone"?

Boso stone is famous for being extracted from the strata of Chiba Prefecture, but the mine where it is located, Mt. Nokogiri, is currently closed to mining and extraction.
At the site of the former mine, a 30m tall Buddha statue called Hyakushaku Kannon, carved into the rock face in 1960, is enshrined as a prayer for safe travels on land, sea and air.
This Nokogiri stone is mined from the same stratum as Boso stone and has a similar texture, but the stratum is slightly younger and it feels softer and finer-grained than Boso stone.
This is a famous stone extracted from a stratum dating back 2 million years to the Pliocene period of the Neogene period of the Cenozoic era.
Two million years ago was the time when the ancestors of the mammals we see today flourished, followed by the Ice Age.

◇What is "KOUKA Stone"?

This stone is from Niijima, part of the Izu Islands, and was created by an eruption 886 years ago.
As the Pacific Plate subducted under the Philippine Sea Plate, magma erupted, creating the Izu Islands. This is also the point where other plates, such as the Okhotsk Plate and the Amur Plate, intersect, and continues to be subjected to a great deal of pressure from the Earth.
Its spongy and extremely light nature comes from the rapid cooling of magma, making it so light that it can float on water.
When viewed under a microscope, the beautiful glassy flow structure creates a pattern that looks just like flowing water.
It is resistant to fire and acid, and possesses the unique properties of magma, such as melting without crumbling when exposed to high temperatures, and then solidifying when cooled.
Because it is a stone formed by rapid cooling, it has the property of retaining its shape even if it is rapidly cooled again.
This stone is not only fire-resistant, but also moisturizing and soundproof.
The Moai statue at Shibuya Station was also made from this stone.
Moyai means "to join forces" in the Niijima language.

◇What is "Nefukawa Stone"?

This stone is associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu and was used in the construction of Edo Castle.
Tokugawa Ieyasu was a great ruler who achieved the unification of Japan until his later years.
During his childhood, he was held hostage by the Imagawa family and had a very hard time.
Like Akabosa stone, it is mined on the surface of Komatsu stone.
With its smooth and shiny surface, this famous stone from Kanagawa Prefecture has been so popular that it sparked a hege stone boom in ancient times.
Because it is plate-shaped, it is a type of "hege stone" whose surface peels off easily.
This stone was formed when the Hakone volcano erupted about 400,000 years ago and the lava that flowed into the sea cooled rapidly.

◇What is "Himekawa Yakuseki"?

It is a type of igneous rock quarried on the coast of Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, and has a long history of use in medical treatment, having long been known as "tiger stone" in traditional Chinese medicine.
There is a local legend that if you are feeling unwell, holding Himekawa Yakuseki will help you.
Because it contains trace amounts of radioactive elements such as radium and thorium, it produces radioactive noble gases such as radon and thoron.
It is expected to have a hormesis effect (an adaptive response that brings about resistance to certain substances), leading to improved immunity.

◇What is "JOGANJI Stone"?

This stone is mined in the Joganji River in Toyama Prefecture.
The Joganji River is a raging river that flows for a short distance of 56km from an altitude of 3000m. The Joganji stones that are mined here take on a ball-like shape as they roll, and are known as "Joganji jade stones." They are beautiful, lustrous stones.
During the Ansei debris flow 140 years ago, a 400-ton boulder (large rock) is said to have flowed down from upstream, giving an idea of ​​how fast the river flows.
There are various theories about the origin of the name, but it means "always praying" that the river will not flood, as it was a river that flooded.

◇What is "Io Stone"?

This andesite is collected from Mt. Tomuro and Mt. Io and is said to be from an undersea volcanic eruption 15 million years ago during the Miocene period of the Neogene period.
Mt. Iwo is also worshipped as a sacred mountain, and Yakushi Nyorai is considered to be the original Buddha. It is also known as a place where lightning strikes, and a paper was presented at an American academic conference stating that the energy of the thunderbolts acts on the rocks and plants of the Iwo-Tomuro mountain range, causing many medicinal herbs to grow and changing the water quality to that of a famous spring.
It has been known as a medicinal stone since the Heian period, and is recorded in the "Iwoseki Yuraiki" as being effective for stomachaches, burns, wounds, eczema, etc., and was highly prized by the Kaga domain, who prohibited it from being taken out of the country.
It is said that when Emperor Gensho and Emperor Kanmu fell ill, they were prescribed medicinal herbs and Iouseki, and were completely cured.
It was approved as a food additive by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 1985.
*This information is based on historical facts and is not intended to be a medicine.

◇What is "Fukui blue"?

Echizen stone discovered by Emperor Keitai.
The fierce general Shibata Katsuie loved this "Ao" stone so much that he is said to have had the roof of his castle covered with Shakudani stone.
It is mainly mined in the Asuwa area of ​​Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, and the stone quality of the Shakudani area at the foot of the mountain on the northwest side is particularly excellent, hence the name Shakudani stone.
It also turns a deep blue when wet.
This stone was loved by the Asakura clan, who ruled Echizen Province, and was used for stone coffins and stone monuments during the Kofun period, about 1,500 years ago.
Mining ceased in 1999, and there is now little in circulation.
It is said to be a stone that gives passion and charisma and leads to victory.

◇What is "Fuji Conglomerate"?

The Fuji River, which flows alongside the sacred Mount Fuji, is a large river that flows from Nagano Prefecture across Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and is counted as one of Japan's three most rapid rivers.
This is a type of Fujikawa stone that has been formed into pebbles, which are produced from the Fuji River.
It is rare that it can be polished to a luster, so it is also used as an ornamental bonsai stone.
The pebbles that appear in the Japanese national anthem "Sazareishi iwa ni narite moss o sumasu made" refers to the long period of time that a small stone becomes a large boulder and moss grows on it.
Stones from Mount Fuji are popular among healers as they have a strong grounding effect.

◇What is "ONTAKE Black Stone"?

Mount Ontake is the second highest mountain after Mount Fuji at 3,067m.
It has been considered a sacred mountain since ancient times, and since the Edo period, monuments to the gods have been made from this stone, and 20,000 of these are enshrined throughout Mount Ontake as guardian stones.
Ontake, a place of worship for natural stones, the Ontake Black Light Stone is erected with the name of the sacred deity engraved on it, and it is said that believers can rest on this mountain.
Ontake Kuroko Shinseki is an andesite that is mined as a boulder and has a lustrous black color. Upon closer inspection, fine patterns can be seen, and no two pieces are exactly alike.

◇What is "GIFU Chert"?

These fossils are radiolarians and sponges deposited on the seafloor.
If you look at the cross section with a magnifying glass, you may be able to see fragments of the fossil.
It can only be formed when there are no other minerals mixed in with the seabed, and because certain environmental conditions must be met, there are only a limited number of places where it can be found.
The chert in Gifu is a Triassic deposit, and some of its sources have been designated as natural monuments.
The stone itself is very hard and layered, so when it breaks it becomes sharp.
It is colorful and transmits light, so it looks very beautiful.

◇What is "Sacred Mount Fuji Lava Stone"?

This is lava from the eruption of Mount Fuji in 1707 (the 4th year of the Hoei era).
The eruption at this time created a large hole in the middle of Mount Fuji.
A volcano with an altitude of 3,776.24m.
It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, and remains an object of worship in Japan today.
The lava from the sacred Mount Fuji, which contains the enormous energy of magma activity, is a mineral with grounding properties that stores the energy of the Earth.
Mount Fuji lava has a very high far-infrared emissivity when heated, and is attracting attention as it is said to be effective in preventing colds and illness when applied to the skin.

◇What is "HAZU Tonalite"?

This stone is used in the walls of Nagoya Castle, which was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
The castle remained in the hands of a Tokugawa lord for 17 generations.
An inscribed stone dating back approximately 95 million years.
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary stone, but it is a mysterious stone that lies between granite and diorite, with little potassium feldspar and consisting of plagioclase and quartz.
Until recently, it was recognized as granite, but as research progressed, it was discovered to be a different mineral called tonalite.

◇What is "Kumano Yakuseki"?

A type of amphibole found on the coast of Kumano.
Since it emits weak radiation, it is expected to have a hormesis effect.
Furthermore, it has been recognized that it emits alpha rays, which are said to be beneficial to the body.
It is a beautiful pale blue stone that is very hard and becomes more lustrous the more you use it.

◇What is "OHMI TAGA Stone"?

A type of limestone mined in Taga Town.
Although it is limestone, it is very strong and has beautiful colors and patterns, making it a very famous stone.
It was formed in the ocean about 280 million years ago.
Hikone Castle and Taga Taisha Shrine, which enshrines the deities Izanagi and Izanami, are located nearby, and the area is rich in history, cultural assets, and mythology, just like Kyoto and Nara.
It is said that the two great gods, Izanagi, the father of Amaterasu Omikami, and his wife Izanami, made their final home in Taga after creating the Japanese archipelago.
Such is the history of this shrine that during the Edo period, it was said that "if you visit Ise Shrine (enshrined deity: Amaterasu Omikami), you must also visit its parent, Izanagi's shrine, Taga Taisha."

◇What is "Kurama Stone"?

The stones on Mount Kurama are one of Kyoto's most powerful power spots.
It is said to be a stone with very strong vibrations.
It is known as a place that has become the global standard for healing, and many people from all over the world visit to receive its energy.
It is said that 6.5 million years ago, Sanat Kumara, the protector demon king of Hindu mythology, descended from Venus to Mount Kurama to save humanity.
It is well known that this is the place where Ushiwakamaru (Minamoto no Yoshitsune) learned martial arts from Kurama Tengu.
Although it looks white, it contains magnetic steel and will turn brown over time.
This change has made it popular as a "wabi-sabi stone."

◇What is "Izumi Blue Stone"?

This is a prefectural stone mined in the southern part of Osaka City.
Izumi blue stone is also used in the walls of Kishiwada Castle, which is designated as a historic site in Osaka.
Kishiwada Castle is a castle that has changed lords over the course of history, from the Oda, Toyotomi, and Tokugawa periods.
This sandstone is found in the Izumi Formation of the Late Cretaceous period, and is a fine-grained stone that spreads from the coast to the seabed.
This is a geological layer distributed along the Median Tectonic Line in southwestern Japan, and its bluish-gray color is known as Izumi blue or Osaka blue.
The same species is collected in Naruto.

◇What is "KUMANO HAYATAMA Stone"?

This is a stone with a deep, rich color from Shingu, one of the Kumano Sanzan shrines, which was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 as part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range."
When visiting Ise Shrine, people have passed through the Kumano Kodo trail and since ancient times have also visited the three major shrines of the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Hongu Shrine, and Kumano Nachi Taisha).
It is very interesting that Shingu is a large shrine dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, and that it is still a living faith, and that the stone bears the same name.
Kamikura Shrine also has a place where a huge rock called Gotobiki Rock is enshrined.

◇What is "Saji Stone"?

A stone from Tottori, famous for the White Rabbit of Inaba.
This episode, which features Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, the god of nation-building, is one of the important stories in Japanese mythology.
One of the three most famous stones in Japan.
It has a high specific gravity and is popular as a wabi-sabi stone, but since it was designated a natural monument, it has become impossible to collect and is very difficult to obtain.
When wet, it changes color from deep black to green, creating a beautiful look.
It is a type of metamorphic rock that is formed when volcanic rock is subjected to high pressure.
The original rock is thought to be tuff breccia, and it is said that the basalt breccia contained therein was elongated into a lens shape by metamorphism.

◇What is "Izumo Stone"?

A stone from Izumo Province, the land of Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, an essential figure in the creation of Japan and Japanese mythology.
In Japan, Okuninushi no Mikoto is identified with Daikoku-sama.
Izumo Taisha Shrine, which appears in the Kojiki, was said to be so tall that it reached the heavens, and modern surveys have shown it to be as high as 48 meters.
One of the mysteries of ancient Japanese history is that Izumo is said to have had an independent government.
This stone is from Kimachi, Shinji Town, Shimane Prefecture, and is a tuffaceous sandstone formed 14 million years ago.
During the Edo period, the Matsue domain prohibited the stone from being taken outside the domain, and Izumo stone is a historic stone that was used in the construction of Matsue Castle.
It is a mysterious stone that is pale grey in colour but turns yellow over time.
They often contain fossils.

◇What is "Pink Royal Micait"?

A historic rock formed during the Late Cretaceous period, 77-88 million years ago.
Potassium feldspar has a distinctive pink color.
It is also called Momotaro stone, and the deeper pink ones are called Ryuo stone.
It is a symbol of cuteness and youth, and its energy is said to support the motivation to take on new challenges.

◇What is "Fairy Skin Diaspore"?

Diaspore is a rare mineral found all over the world.
Some stones have color-changing and cat's-eye properties, and are sold as gemstones.
It is difficult to process and is mainly composed of aluminum and hydroxide, and can come in a variety of colors, including green, purple, brown, and transparent, depending on the manganese content.
This rare mineral, not only rare in the world, but also rare diaspore from Hiroshima Prefecture, coexists with pyrophyllite.
The soft pyrophyllite envelops and protects the diaspore, and its unique, smooth texture is reminiscent of fairy skin.

◇What is "Tokuyama Kurokami Stone"?

Kurokami Island has been called "Kurokami Island" since ancient times, and has a history of being an area that humans could not approach, so there are almost no records remaining about the island's interior.
It is a rare island that is adjacent to Senjima Island and is connected to it by sand on the coast due to the close distance.
Yamaguchi Prefecture is famous as the prefecture that has produced the most prime ministers, and the granite from Kurokami Island became famous when it was used in the construction of Japan's National Diet Building.
It is a stone known for its durability, luster, and stability, as it contains little iron and therefore does not change color.

◇What is "Solomonite"?

Between the 11th and 8th centuries BC, King Solomon, father of King David, died and the ancient Kingdom of Israel was divided.
It is said that ten of the twelve tribes of Orthodox Jews were scattered around the world due to the fierce attacks of foreign countries.
One of these tribes is said to have arrived near Tokushima in Shikoku, and there are many anecdotes about them succeeding Solomon that remain in this area.
This solomonite is mined from an active fault line that stretches from Shikoku to the Japanese archipelago.
It has great potential to inherit the great power of the royal family and bring out their charisma.

◇What is "Sanukite"?

Also known as Sanuki rock or Kankan stone, it is a very dense copper pyroxene andesite, and is a rare stone that makes a metallic sound when hung from a string and struck.
This beautiful sound reverberated throughout the opening ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
It is one of Japan's 100 best geological sites, and in 2016 it was selected as Kagawa Prefecture's "Prefectural Stone" by the Geological Society of Japan.
Depending on the place of origin, Sanukite comes in male and female forms, and their properties differ.
They also have unusual shapes such as those eaten by insects, rotten wood, pine cones, and dried bonito flakes.

◇What is a "Karst Stalactite"?

A karst plateau stretches across the border between Ehime and Kochi prefectures.
Karst is a calcareous land where rain falls on the ground and dissolves the limestone, creating spaces and forming limestone caves.
Ehime Prefecture has a very long cave that stretches over 500m.
This calcareous land is said to be the result of ancient coral reefs that did not fossilize when southern Ehime Prefecture and Kochi Prefecture were still located near the equator, leaving only the calcareous remains.
The fossilized form of this is Tosa cherry blossoms.
It has become one of the 100 most famous caves in Japan and is currently designated as a natural monument of Ehime Prefecture, so it is no longer possible to collect raw stones.

◇What is "Tosa Sakura"?

Tosa Sakura is a precious limestone containing coral fossils from 423 million years ago (Silurian period of the Paleozoic era).
Tosa cherry blossoms are produced near the summit of Mount Yokokura.
Parts of Shikoku, including Kochi Prefecture, were located near the equator in ancient times and were underwater, so they contain fossils of honeysuckle corals, chain corals, and sea lilies.
It was called "cherry blossom" stone because of its pale pink surface.
Sakamoto Ryoma said he was going to see the cherry blossoms and headed straight to Kyoto, where he changed the course of Japanese history.
This is a Tosa stone that truly brings to mind Ryoma.

◇What is "Yame Stone"?

It is one of the famous stones mined in the area of ​​Kamiyo-cho and Kuroki-cho in Yamauchi, Yame-gun, Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
It is a deposit of the Aso pyroclastic flow from about 70,000 years ago, containing lenticular yellow pumice and black obsidian.
The Aso pyroclastic flow at this time was extremely large, crossing the Shimabara Peninsula and Amakusa straits and reaching Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
This eruption formed the current caldera.
Yame stone is characterized by its softness, ease of carving, light weight, and excellent resistance to fire and cold.
It is mainly used for stone pagodas, stone carvings of Buddha, and stone lanterns, and the Yame stone lanterns are particularly famous.
The hardness and color vary depending on the layer from which it is extracted.
The name Yame comes from Yametsuhime, a goddess who appears in the Nihon Shoki.

◇What is "Sapphire TENZAN Stone"?

Granite containing sapphire (corundum).
The surface is made of sapphire glass using cerium oxide, which is used to polish stone.
This cerium oxide is said to have the effect of strengthening the stone, making it hard, water-resistant, and resistant to discoloration.
Granite that is resistant to such weathering is rare, and the vitrified surface reflects light like a mirror.

◇What is "Isahaya Stone"?

This hard sandstone is mined in Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture, where the Sengoku period warlord Ryuzoji, formerly known as the Isahaya clan, was based.
Ryuzoji Takanobu was one of the three most powerful Sengoku warlords in Kyushu and was known for his quick decision-making ability.
According to Luis Frois's records, his decisiveness was so great that "even the speed and wisdom of Caesar could not have attempted it."
The name Isahaya was changed from Ryuzoji during the time of Ieharu, one of the four Ryuzoji families.
The Isahaya family's territory was said to have been very wealthy and had a very high kokudaka (rice yield).
Isahaya stone is one of the famous stones produced in the territory.

◇What is "Amakusa Stone"?

This stone is from Oyano Island, Kamiamakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, said to be the birthplace of Amakusa Shiro Tokisada.
A place famous for the Hidden Christians and the Shimabara Rebellion, Sakitsu Church in Shimoamakusa was registered as a World Heritage Site in June 2018 as part of the "Hidden Christian Heritage of the Nagasaki and Amakusa Region."
The beautiful historic townscape and the unusual Japanese-style church with its tiled roof and tatami mats never fail to fascinate visitors.
Amakusa stone is famous as a whetstone, but it is also a mysterious stone with a beautiful grain pattern that could easily be mistaken for wood.
Its formation process is that of lithoidite intrusive rock (rhyolite) that does not contain phenocrysts, and the wood grain-like pattern appears due to hydrothermal action.
This hydrothermal action causes quartz, mica, tourmaline, and other minerals to enter the intrusions and form the rocks.

◇What is "Yamato Yoshino stone"?

Yamato can be said to be the birthplace of Japanese civilization.
This stone comes from a mysterious land where many ancient tombs and stone ruins still remain, shrouded in mystery.
It is one of the famous stones that has a deep red base and shows various expressions such as green, yellow-green, and black.
Along the Median Tectonic Line, the main components are chlorite, which is of the same series as the Solomonite in Tokushima Prefecture, and pale yellow-green epidote.
However, what makes it different from other stones is that it contains a lot of volcanic iron, which oxidizes over time and gives it a vivid red color.
Since ancient times, they have been treasured as bonsai stones and garden stones, and those around the Yoshino River are particularly prized for their beauty.

◇What is "Yamato Stone"?

There are many place names related to the Iwato Hidden Myth, and it was collected near Amanoyasugawara, where the eight million gods are said to have held a meeting.
This stone began to form 14 million years ago, during a period when the Japanese archipelago was active, and it is difficult to find green stones, making them beautiful and highly valuable.
It is also said to emit terahertz waves, has a good mineral balance, and contains potassium 40 (40K), which is expected to be useful not only in maintaining health but also in a variety of fields, such as deodorizing and revitalizing the water, and is attracting attention.
It is said to be protected by the eight million gods and to bring health, longevity, and youth.

◇What is "KAJIKI Stone"?

This is one of the inscribed stones that was mined in Kajiki-cho, Aira City, and was formed by pyroclastic flows from an undersea eruption about 600,000 years ago.
It is a precious stone that is now being mined in small quantities.
There are many small bubbles, which indicates that the pyroclastic flow at the time was hot and intense.
The bubbles resemble lava, and minerals that have separated from the lava have crystallized within them to form geodes, making it fun to look at each bubble with a magnifying glass.
The place name Kajiki is said to have originated from the legend of the camphor tree, which says that when a ship's rudder was placed there, a bud sprouted and became a camphor tree.
During the Heian period, this area was the territory of the Kajiki clan, and due to donations from Osumi Masahachiman Shrine, it became the territory of Masahachiman Shrine.
Osumi Masahachiman Shrine is the current Kagoshima Shrine, and its head deity is Yamasachihiko, the son of Ninigi-no-Mikoto and Konohayasakuya-hime, and the grandfather of Emperor Jimmu.

◇What is "Ryukyu Stone (RYUKYU LIMESTONE)"?

It is a porous sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate, formed by the accumulation of coral reefs and seashells in the 20th century, more than tens of thousands of years ago.
It has long been used as a building material in Okinawa, and is used for cobblestones, stone walls, Shuri Castle, and imperial tombs, and is still a familiar stone to the people of Okinawa today.
It has excellent moisture retention and breathability, low thermal conductivity, and beautiful fossil patterns.
When Ryukyu stone gets dusty, it loses its power.
Regular care will give it energy.
When combined with a Shisa, it exerts its full power.
Please make sure to place the Shisa facing the entrance.
It is said to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits.