This stone once belonged to Ichiu Katayama. An inspiration to many bonsai and suiseki enthusiasts, Katayama founded the Katayama School of Keido in the 1980s, which sought to deepen the practice of displaying bonsai and suiseki stones. This stone’s name, Shunkin, meaning “spring is near,” was given by Katayama. It was likely named such as this piece evokes the scene of a hillside meadow in early spring where only a little snow remains.