Originally Posted by
ZethLent
Remember that these 'grades' are not a designation of quality, they only denote the shape and colour of the nagura stone. The 別上 (betsujou) means only that the stone is a predominantly white colour (vs. striped) and in not a uniform square shape (which would be betu dai jou or 別大上). The striped ones are all 特級 and 特級上 (tokkyu and tokkyujou respectively) which are the non white ones, or the so called striped ones which are of the same quality, but are less common.
I would like to ask others here about their Botan naguras. The botan is always in katakana i.e. ボタン but I have one that is labeled 八重ボタン or 'yae-botan'. Do any of you have one like this? Mine is all pocked like a suita but is no more absorbant than a regular one. If you do let me know if it has this similar look. Thanks.