On a modest street corner of Shiroishi lies the curious little object that gave the city in northern Japan its name. A small white rock (shiro ishi in Japanese) quietly gathers moss as most residents and tourists pass it by. Far more than just a geological landmark, this rock has a reputation for its magical properties. The rock measures about 1.5 meters in diameter and is composed of a grayish tuff. In feudal times, it was regarded as Shinseki, or the “god stone.” It is said to have a very…
