【Ogatsu Suzuri】 by Masaru Yamazaki

The Ogatsu Suzuri is a traditional Japanese inkstone produced in the Ogatsu area of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.

History and Tradition
Its history is ancient, with records suggesting the inkstone material was being quarried as early as 1396 (around the Muromachi period). It is said that "it has been prized as a fine inkstone since the Oei era, and its 600-year history and tradition have been handed down ever since. Production flourished due to the patronage of the Date Clan and the abundance of high-quality raw materials available in the region.

The raw material for the inkstone 
Ogatsu Stone (Ogatsu-ishi), is a type of black, hard, crystalline slate, also known as Genshō-seki.This stone possesses features highly desirable for an inkstone material, such as uniformity of particles and a beautiful luster.

Featured Product Detail: The Miracle Pine
The Ogatsu Suzuri featured here includes a lid with a special carving of a single pine tree. This represents the "Miracle Pine" (Kiseki no Ipponmatsu), the one solitary tree that survived the massive tsunami of March 11, 2011, out of approximately 70,000 pines in the nationally designated scenic spot, "Takata Matsubara.
This carving embodies the prayer and spirit of the artisan, Mr. Yamazaki.Product

Specifications
Size: φ120mm x H 38mm
Weight: 1100g