Mail Order of Traditional Handicrafts and Folk Art

Ogatsuishi is a black, lustrous, hard slate from Ogatsu-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. The particles are homogeneous and have high strength against compression and bending, and are highly resistant to aging. It occurs in the Upper Permian strata of the upper Paleozoic era in the Tome formation of the Kitakami mountain range. The history of the Ogatsu inkstone is an extremely long one, dating back over 600 years to the early Muromachi period. It is said that in the early Edo period, the inkstone was given to Date Masamune, a deer hunter who came to Tojima on the Oshika Peninsula to hunt deer, who was highly praised and rewarded with two inkstones. Tadamune II of the Date family was so impressed by the skillfulness of the inkstone craftsmen that he hired an inkstone craftsman to work for him at the Date Clan. It is said that he designated the mountains from which the raw materials for the inkstone were extracted as Otomeyama and forbade ordinary people to pick up the stones. This is why the Ogatsu Inkstone has been highly praised as a famous inkstone since the days of the Oei era, and the inkstone has been in business for over 600 years, and the tradition of this inkstone has continued uninterruptedly for over 600 years. As in the past, the handcrafted method of making this inkstone has always been the same, and each inkstone craftsman painstakingly carves the stone with the same level of care and attention to detail as before. The most important part of an inkstone is the tip of an inkstone, which acts as the tip of an inkstone's teeth. The characteristics of the Ogatsu inkstone are the perfect balance of roughness, thinness, hardness, and softness at the tip of the blade. The color of the stone is black or dark indigo, with a rich gloss and a smooth surface. In this sense, an inkstone made in Ogatsu is not an ornately carved, ornate inkstone, but a simple, functional inkstone that utilizes the characteristics of the Ogatsu stone (Ｇensho stone). The blessings of the land, combined with the outstanding carving techniques used, make the Ogatsu inkstone an excellent inkstone. ●Ishinomine, the sacred object of Ishinomine Shrine (352m).This is the scenery of a fishing village before the disaster.

I recently visited Mr. Takashi Chiba, Secretary General of the Ogatsu Inkstone Manufacturing and Sales Cooperative, to find out more. The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 devastated the Ogatsu Town (Ishinomaki City), where the Ogatsu Inkstone was made, and destroyed it. It was a tragic sight. When the earthquake struck, he was in his garden with other staff members. He grew up in Sanriku and is accustomed to earthquakes, but this was the first time he saw the ground hit the ground. Afterwards, he went to the back of the house and about 40 minutes later, the tsunami hit. He said he saw his house swallowed up like a matchbox. When he returned to his house after the tide receded, there was nothing left but debris that had washed ashore, and the only remnants of his house were the tiles in the bathroom. The sheer cruelty of the disaster brought more laughter than tears to his eyes. At the time, the town had about 7 or 8,000 people living in the fishing industry and farming scallops and sea rats, but now, nine and a half years after the disaster, only about 1,700 elderly people have returned to the area. The young people have moved to nearby towns and villages. At present, the houses have been moved to higher ground and a large concrete dike (9.7m high x 1.8km length) is being constructed. The streets that were once crowded with the fishing industry have been greatly changed and life is changing again. The fishing industry is no longer thriving, and many of the workshops involved in the Ogatsu inkstone business are no longer in existence, and the craftsmen are getting old. Masaru Yamazaki of the Ogatsu Inkstone and Kaiwado Ink Source store lost his mother and wife in the tsunami and moved back to his daughter's home in Sendai, but he has now returned to the town of Ogatsu. For the old people, their hometown is their final home. The Ogatsu Inkstone Industrial Hall was a magnificent building built on a seawall. On this day, we could see the gentle rays of the autumn sunshine and the serene view of Oura Bay. This huge bay, with its abundance of blessings, was transformed into a gigantic tsunami that swallowed up the people of Ogatsu Town. As a result of discussions with Mr. Chiba, we have decided to include the products of the Ogatsu Inkstone Manufacturing and Sales Cooperative on the webcite of the Handicraft Division. Nine and a half years have already passed since the earthquake, and there are still many traces of the disaster. Will the Oukatsu Inkstone be revived in the years to come? As an inkstone, it works wonderfully. Brushes and calligraphy are disappearing from our daily lives. Ogatsu stone, a black hard slate (Xuanchang stone) formed 250 million years ago, is being developed as Tableware and other Crafts products. The hard, homogeneous Ogatsu stone is reminiscent of a woman's dark hair. We hope that you will enjoy using this type of stone, which has a history and tradition dating back to the Muromachi period, in your restaurants and at home. At the Tech Industry Webcite, we are dedicated to introducing and selling the Ogatsu Inkstone and its inkstone with a long history. We hope that we can help you to carry on the excellence of the Ogatsu Inkstone and its traditional techniques, and that many more people will use the inkstone.　(2020.09.23)

YouTube of Okatsu Inkstone ■Handiwork Nippon Ogatsukasen and Inkstone NHK Sendai　 ■Ogatsu is now the Ogatsu Inkstone Manufacturing and Sales Cooperative ■Traditional Inkstone and Slate Inkstone - Master Craftsman Making a Slate with Yusho Stone.mp4

［Manufacturing］

• The Ogatsu Inkstone has been praised as an excellent inkstone since the days of the Oei Era, and since then the inkstone has been in business for over 600 years.
  The inkstone is handcrafted in the traditional way, and the inkstone craftsman's skill and breath are all that is needed to carve the stone.

１．Quarry		Using heavy machinery and other tools, the stone is quarried in an open-air pond.
２．Cutting		The selected rough stones are cut according to the size, thickness, and shape of the stone to be produced.
３．Sanding		The cut stones are placed on a disc-shaped grinder, and river sand and water are poured into it to remove the unevenness of the surface and make it smooth. Wood removal (cutting off excess parts of the wood)
４．Carving		The carving process is divided into three stages: edge preparation, rough carving, and finishing carving.
５． Polishing		The carved stone is polished in three stages: medium polishing, external polishing, and finishing, using a grinding stone and water-resistant paper to carefully polish the surface.
６． Finishing process		There are three types of finishing methods: glossy lacquer finish, baked finish, and sumi (sumi) finish.

【Kind】 　　　　　　　　　 　　　

inkstone	natural stone inkstone		The four corners of the inkstone material are artificially removed, and the shape of the stone is processed in a natural way. This process can be used to create an inkstone of similar shape, and the stone can be mass produced.
	Square inkstone Tang Dynasty inkstone		This is the basis for making an inkstone. This inkstone is known as the inkstone used by schoolchildren in the calligraphy bags used by elementary school students.
	Natural inkstone with a natural lid		This inkstone is a natural stone inkstone with a lid, and each stone is divided into a cover and the inkstone itself. With this cover, the inkstone's inkstone cover keeps the ink from drying when the hands are resting, and the inkstone's cover helps prevent the ink from drying.
TABLE WARE	Flat plate square		Available in sizes from 90 mm square to 270 mm square. Recommended for serving.
	Multi-purpose plates		In addition to a set of four 210mm x 210mm pieces, the other sizes are 270mm x 270mm products are also available. It is recommended for party plates and the like.
	Rough Cut Platest		The press-cutting process is used to create an artificially natural look and feel. You can enjoy the different expressions of each piece.
	flat plate with a stand		The cracked surface of the ookachi stone is utilized, and another stone is pasted together to give the height of the dish itself. The indentations in the plate can be used for various purposes such as condiments and soy sauce.
	Karatory Rest		This color rest is based on nifrost and other stone splits. It is useful for table settings.
CRAFTS	Pen tray		Incense holders, pen trays, single-flower vases, paperweights, and other simple artifacts in black luster. You can enjoy them in your daily life.

• The price is the price of the unit, and sales tax will be added to the price.
  
• We will ship your order in 1 to 2 weeks.
  
• Smaller items will be shipped via Letter Pack Light (¥370).
  
• The natural stone inkstone is available in a standard size.
  Please note that the shape of the stone is not the same as the photo image.
  
• If you wish to order an inkstone with your name on it, please contact Kaiwado Yamazaki Masaru at the Ogatsu Inkstone and Design Center.
  
• Price List for the Ogatsu Inkstone and the Inkstone Product List (as of October 1, 2020)
  

■Inkstone Return
【Natural stone inkstone】Return
・Natural stone inkstone 　(25 degrees) 　¥4,500 　L 75 x W 45 x W 10 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-T025	・Natural stone inkstone 　(35 degrees) 　¥5,000 　L 105 x W 45 x W 10 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-T035	・Natural stone inkstone 　(4.2 inches) 　¥8,500 　L 120 x W 60 x W 13 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-T042
・Natural Stone Inkstone 　(45 flat) 　¥14,500 　L 140 x W 80 x W 21 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-T045	・Natural stone inkstone 　(5.3 inches) 　¥18,000 　L 150 x W 90 x W 24 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-T053	・Natural Stone Inkstone 　 (Small 46) 　¥28,000 　L 170 x W 110 x W 33 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-T046s
・Natural Stone Inkstone 　(Large 46) 　¥39,500 　L180 x W120 x W40 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-T046b
【Square inkstone】Return
・Square inkstone (38) 　¥4,000 　L118 x W45 x W10(mm)　 　Product Code SZ-K038	・Square inkstone (25 degrees) 　¥3,500 　L75 x W45 x W10(mm)　 　Product Code SZ-K025	・Square inkstone (35 degrees) 　¥4,000 　L 105 x W 45 x W 10 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-K035
・Square inkstone ( 42 inches ) 　¥6,000 　L 120 x W 60 x W 13 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-K042	・Square inkstone ( 4 flat ) 　¥7,000 　L 120 x W 75 x W 13 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-K044	・Square inkstone (45 flat) 　¥9,000 　L 140 x W 80 x W 21 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-K045
・Square inkstone (53 inches) 　¥12,000 　L 150 x W 90 x W 24 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-K053	・Square inkstone (Small 46) 　￥14,500 　L 170 x W 110 x W 33 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-K046s	・Square inkstone (Large 46) 　¥18,000 　L180 x W120 x W40 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-K046b
【Tang Dynasty inkstone】Return
・Tang Dynasty inkstone 　(45 flat) 　¥12,500 　L 140 x W 80 x W 21 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-KT045	・Tang Dynasty inkstone 　 (5.3 inches) 　¥16,000 　L 150 x W 90 x W 24 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-KT053	・Tang Dynasty inkstone 　 (small 46) 　¥21,500 　L 170 x W 110 x W 33 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-KT046s
・Tang Dynasty inkstone 　(large 46) 　¥36,000 　L180 x W120 x W40 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-KT046b
【Natural inkstone with a natural lid 】Return
・Natural inkstone with 　a natural lid (42 inches) 　¥10,500 　 L 120 x W 60 x W 13 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-F042	・Natural inkstone with 　a natural lid ( 4 flat) 　¥14,000 　 L 120 x W 75 x W 13 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-F044	・Natural inkstone with 　a natural lid (45 flat) 　¥18,000 　L 140 x W 80 x W 21 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-F045
・Natural inkstone with 　 a natural lid (5.3 inches) 　￥21,500 　L 150 x W 90 x W 24 (mm)　 　Product Code SZ-F053	・Natural inkstone with 　 a natural lid ( small46 ) 　¥32,000 　L 170 x W 110 x W 33 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-F046s	・Natural inkstone with 　a natural lid (large 46) 　¥43,000 　L180 x W120 x W40 (mm)　 　Product CodeSZ-F046b
■TABLE WARE　Return
【Flat plate square】Return
・Flat plate 90 square 　¥1,200 　 L 90 x W 90 x W 6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS090	・Flat plate 120 square 　¥2,000 　 L120 x W120 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS120	・Flat plate 150 square 　￥3,000 　 L 150 x W 150 x W 6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS150
・Flat plate 180 square 　¥4,200 　 L180 x W180 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS180	・Flat plate 210 square 　¥4,800 　 L210 x W210 x W6 (mm)　 　Product Code TW-FS210	・Flat Plate 240 square 　¥7,200 　 L240 x W240 x W6 (mm)　 　Product Code TW-FS240
・Flat Plate 270 square 　¥8,400 　 L270 x W270 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS270	・Flat plate rectangular 　¥2,800 　 L 210 x W 100 x W 6 (mm)　 　Product Code TW-FYN210
【Multi-purpose plates】Return
・Multi-purpose plate 　210 square 　¥6,000 　 L210 x W210 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS210R	・Multi-purpose plate 　270 square 　¥10,800 　 L270 x W270 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS270R	・Pasta dish 210 square 　¥10,000 　 L210 x W210 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS210P
・Pasta dish 240 square 　¥15,000 　 L240 x W240 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FS240P	・Eight square plate 　¥6,000 　 L210 x W210 x W6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-F8	・2-piece palette 　¥9,600 　 L 200 x W 100 x W 6 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FYNP2
・Coaster 90 square 　¥1,300 　 L 90 x W 90 x W 6 (mm)　 　2 to 5-disc set 　Product CodeTW-CT4	・Coasters Octagon 　¥1,400 　 L 90 x W 90 x W 6 (mm) 　2 to 5-disc set　 　Product CodeTW-CT8	・Coaster Round Rough Cut 　¥1,500 　 90π×6(mm) thick　 　2 to 5-disc set 　Product CodeTW-CTR
【Rough Cut Plates】　Return
・Square rough cut 　¥12,000 　 L 300 x W 170 x W 15 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FR300	・Round rough cut 190 π 　¥8,400 　 π190 x 6(mm) thick　 　Product CodeTW-FR190	・Round rough cut 210 π 　¥9,600 　 π210 x 6(mm) thick　 　Product Code TW-FR210
【flat plate with a stand】　Return		【Karatory Rest】Return
・flat plate with a stand 　¥7,200 　 L 230 x W 140 x W 15(mm)　 　Product Code TW-FYND	・With round recessed 　flat plate　with stand 　¥8,400 　 L 230 x W 140 x W 15(mm)　 　Product CodeTW-FYNDP	・Knife and fork rest 　¥1,400 　 L 85 x W 15 x W 15 (mm)　 　Product CodeTW-HKR
・Chopstick rest: horizontal 　¥1,000 　 L60 x W10 x W10 (mm)　 　Product Code TW-HYN	・Chopstick rest Half circle 　¥1,000 　 π50 x 6(mm) semi-circle 　Product Code TW-HYNHR	・chopstick rest round 　¥1,000 　 π50 x 6(mm) in thickness　 　Product Code TW-HYNR
■CRAFTS Return
【Pen Tray】 Return
・incense burner 　￥1,500 　 L 90 x W 90 x W 5 (mm)　 　Product CodeCR-001	・Pen tray 　¥6,000 　 L 210 x W 110 x W 6 (mm)　 　Product CodeCR-002	・Flower vase with stand 　¥8,400 　(Pedestal) 150 x 150 x 6 　 (Body) 70 x 70 x 160 (mm)　 　Product CodeCR-004
・Round paperweight 　￥1,500 　 70π×15(mm) thick　 　Product CodeCR-P01	・Square Paperweight 　With chopstick rest 　¥1,000 　 L 45 x W 75 x W 20 (mm)　 　Product CodeCR-P04	・Paperweight (small) 　￥1,500 　 L35 x W100 x W35 (mm)　 　Product CodeCR-BS
・Mouse pad (large) 　¥1,800 　 L 190 x W 140 x W 2(mm)　 　Product CodeCR-MP	・Mouse pad (small) 　¥1,300 　 L 155 x W 105 x W 2(mm)　 　Product CodeCR-MPs	・Card Stand (Small) 　￥455. 　 L20 x W20 x T20 (mm)　 　Product CodeCR-CS01