Field Trip: Disneyland for Jnat Lovers.

Gentlemen,

I just returned last Thursday from a trip to Sonoma to visit my friend Alex Gilmore (The Japan Stone) and see one of the best collections of Japanese natural stones outside of Japan. Some of the stones are truly amazing. Alex is also a font of knowledge regarding the history and usage of these stones.

I also learned via Alex’s microscope that I should explore improving my stropping, and I have re-kindled my interest in softer stones after having drifted to the hard side over time.

So here’s some eye candy for the aficionados of jnats, enjoy.

 

Here are 5 large suita stones, including a beautiful habutae (center, named after rice cake color kimono silk) and a huge sunashi suita (a suita without su) on the right. And a couple of iromono or multicolored stones.

 

Here are a couple of larger stones, a huge 25-pound (or so) karasu, and a nice Nakayama iromono.

 

Here’s my modest take, and a shot of the beautiful California coast at Dillon Beach, across a small bay from Point Reyes.

 

Really cool!

Next time you talk, tell him one of your buddies said is that all?

 

I'm just surprised he was able to drag @Steve56 out of his place.

 

Bill, actually there are some more, but not a lot more.

I like to travel, though airplanes are not my favorite mode, especially cattle class.

 

Very interesting reads on his site, in the blog section. Worth the time to read.

https://www.japanstones.com/blog

..

 

Holy patooties - that’s a lot of stones.

And, let me just say that if your stropping is in need of improving the rest of us are in trouble.

 

Thanks @Karl G - I’m pretty sure it could be better, the problem is to figure out what to do!