New Old Stock (1960s) Ohira tomae. The ink stamps read on the upper right: Ohira-Kozan (Ohira Mine), Awase Toishi (Awase stone). In the midsection within a rectangular box: Ippon-sen (selected choice item). At the lower right in a box is: Sanju-gata (30 size).
30 size as I describe in my book is a reference to an average adult male can carry 30 pieces of this size stone from the mine entrance to the valley floor work shop.
This is a perfect example of a tomae: homogenous, thick & heavy, workhorse fast cutting, and excellent shape. The last generation of the Ohira mine was dug nearer the valley floor where the sediment was thicker and more compact. Famous for their red renge patterns, they were also well known for their uchigumori and homogeneous larger tomae stones like this one which is perfectly trimmed with all corners and edges.
Please take note here. This tomae is not a kiita yellow stone, but more of a buff color.
Grade #30 (30 size) 206x76x36mm thick. 1418grams (3lb4oz)
Level 3- hardness (it will absorb water)