It is made of soapstone, a waxy stone that is extremely soft and has a unique, soapy texture that is truly captivating. Because soapstone features blue, rippled patterns, it is also known as “tiger stone.” It is said that in its place of origin, Shōgen City, lies the tomb of Izanami-no-Mikoto, the “Goddess of Nation-Building” who appears in the *Kojiki*. She is a major figure in Japanese mythology; according to legend, Izanami-no-Mikoto and her husband, Izanagi-no-Mikoto, created the Japanese archipelago and the Celestial Marsh.