The Meaning of Tomuro-stone Usage in Kanazawa City

Abstract

Tomuro-stone is the red or blue colored andesite produced in Kanazawa City. The history and meaning of Tomurostone usage in Kanazawa was investigated from field survey and literature reference. The meaning of the Tomuro-stone usage was as follows. 1) The color of Tomuro-stone is clear, so the red color of the stone is popular in Kanazawa City. 2) Blue Tomuro-stone has been diffused in Kanazawa too. So there is traditional culture of red and blue coloring by andesite stone work in Kanazawa. That is rare culture in Japan. 3) Red and blue Tomuro-stones have been applied to materials for civil engineering, building and gardening in Kanazawa, and those have become high cultural elements.