As China is Japan's largest granite supplier, it is possible that Chinese granite will someday make up the bulk of Japanese tombstones.
Importers say Chinese stone dressers have improved their skills sufficiently to be able to process raw granite into polished gravestones inscribed with family names.
There are Chinese workers in the 17-20 age bracket fully competent in the skill of chiseling delicate, curved lines into tombstones.
"A veteran Japanese artisan was surprised when he saw me and said I was better than him," one such worker said with a smile.