【Introduction of Iyo whetstones】
”Iyo” is a place in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, that is known for producing whetstones.
There are records in ancient documents that “Iyo whetstones” supplied goods to the Imperial Court in the 9th century.
Whetstones have been used to sharpen Japanese swords and other blades.
Even today, natural whetstones are produced in Iyo from stones carved from the mountains.
【About natural whetstones】
Natural whetstones are excellent, but because they are natural, they are expensive.
Also, because the stones themselves are natural, each one has its own characteristics.
When sharpening a blade, it is necessary to take into account the hardness of the stone
and the mud particles that come off the stone.
