Well used hone, I found most Nakayams I have tried to be a bit finicky to figure out. Some were more straight forward to figure out.
Maruichi Maruka Nakayama
- Thread starter professorchaos
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They can be finicky ... and worth the effort. Once I understood this one, I was amazed at how hard I had found it.
Digging deeper and deeper into this stamping thing is proving to be frustrating. Speaking with one source who has bought and sold over 1000 maruka stones directly from Hatanaka claims to have never seen the 'maruichi' stamp anywhere but at 'fake stone shops'.
It was also his opinion that old stones didn't have so many stamps on them. So the 3 or 4 nakayama maruichi kamisori stamped hones that have passed through my hands are all? counterfeits?
It was also his opinion that old stones didn't have so many stamps on them. So the 3 or 4 nakayama maruichi kamisori stamped hones that have passed through my hands are all? counterfeits?
It is interesting to know That next Sunday the union of natural Whetstone of kyoto is having their new years party and this maruichi stamp issue is actually one of the topics they plan on discussing.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
Wonderful! I always enjoy these.
Cheers, Steve
Cheers, Steve
I find that difficult to believe. Though I find it interesting he said 'fake stone shops' rather than the stones themselves being fake. Maybe he isn't happy with how some stores run their businesses? lol
Remember this guy is Japanese so perhaps his wording wasn't perfect. But with sales of 1000 marukas and no knowledge of the maruichi stamp? Something is going on here.
Do they sing Auld Lang Syne at Stone Collector's New Years dos? Guess they listen to Genesis and the like - Progressive Rock!!!! (I'm on a roll, why stop now).
Close the dance with a slow? Love is all around me.... By Scottish supergroup WhetWhetWhet!!!
By the way, getting back on track, I have a couple of jnats that show nakayama style kawa on them and are wonderful stones that leave lightening sharp (OK, it's a made up adjective) edges. None are stamped - they go for crazy money and being a poor man I can't afford them myself but I like to have a punt on an outsider and sometimes it works!
Mmm.
Imanishi-san would know. Anyone got his number?
If memory serves - the Maruka and Maruichi stamps were registered, copyrighted - etc.
Seems to me that this could be, should be - readily proveable. No? I mean, if the stamps were registered, then there would have to be an official record of them somewhere. Who could research that though? Would have to be someone involved with Japanese commerce and possibly have contacts in the KWA.
Imanishi-san would know. Anyone got his number?
If memory serves - the Maruka and Maruichi stamps were registered, copyrighted - etc.
Seems to me that this could be, should be - readily proveable. No? I mean, if the stamps were registered, then there would have to be an official record of them somewhere. Who could research that though? Would have to be someone involved with Japanese commerce and possibly have contacts in the KWA.
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I guess if there is money to be made someone will fake them. Like the fake Civil War stuff, fake Japanese Katana, fake coins, etc. The reason the fakes are hard to spot is that most of them probably are good stones in and of themselves. So a test sharpening on them serves no purpose. If the fakes honed up a blade like rubbing it on the curb outside it wouldn't be a problem.
They have been and will continue to be forged. Stones from lesser known mines will be stamped as Shoubudani or Nakayama, others will be emblazoned with Maruka or Maruichi or Hatahoshi stamps or whatever the flavor of the day is.
I do seem to remember seeing boxes that were obviously very very old that had a Maruichi stamp - but that, in and of itself doesn't mean much I guess. A lot of the stories and explanations about all of this stuff, most actually - have been passed on by word of mouth.
So I guess anything is possible.
One thing though - I've noticed that it's very difficult to get absolute clarity about much of anything, information is often passed on in a way that is more nebulous than it might seem. Best to listen more and repeat less I think. IMO. - We, here in the west, are not going to be privvy to or capable of totally understanding everything in the Jnat world. Our thinking is not the same, we tend to seek end results and numerical qualifications - in Japan, it's markedly different. People do not waltz around expounding on how Shobus are this way and Ohiras are that way. What I see is a mindset that's is more about the process and the user being or becoming part of a larger picture.
I do seem to remember seeing boxes that were obviously very very old that had a Maruichi stamp - but that, in and of itself doesn't mean much I guess. A lot of the stories and explanations about all of this stuff, most actually - have been passed on by word of mouth.
So I guess anything is possible.
One thing though - I've noticed that it's very difficult to get absolute clarity about much of anything, information is often passed on in a way that is more nebulous than it might seem. Best to listen more and repeat less I think. IMO. - We, here in the west, are not going to be privvy to or capable of totally understanding everything in the Jnat world. Our thinking is not the same, we tend to seek end results and numerical qualifications - in Japan, it's markedly different. People do not waltz around expounding on how Shobus are this way and Ohiras are that way. What I see is a mindset that's is more about the process and the user being or becoming part of a larger picture.
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