news

2025
November 25

Project Gotoba
Some customers came to my shop to experience big hammer work. It was fold'n welding work, and some part of the work was done by them with big hammer. The steel will be used for the blade what they are ordering.

October 11

Project Gotoba
Some ladies tried clay designing, heating and quenching to tanto blades.

Those blades are sisters. They looked success. But we have yet known what blades will come out.

August 8

Sword rescue mission
One of our friend brought us a katana blade in pitiful condition. The shape is not proper while the blade quality itself is not so bad. Probably it had covered with deep rust or damaged by sword fight. And the polisher who polished this blade just cleaned the blade surface without recalling proper shape. What is more, it is put in a horrible mount what is assembled with parts of garbage. The tang has deep rust and hard to read the signature.
Then, we decided to get it to rescue it. We will have the blade re-polished to recall the proper shape, and put in a new shirasaya. It will take some months and cost a lot. What blade will come out?

July 14

Cute visitors
Pupils of a kindergarten came to my shop to watch actual work of blacksmith. I showed them my work of fold'n welding. They were surprised with the sparks and big noise. I hope they enjoyed the work. However some pupils were crying to be scared of horrible work. They sang the song "Blacksmith chorus" for me. I shook hand with each of them. I had a nice moment. They encouraged me to work in such a hot and humid weather.

April 30

Ancient blade of China
I got a piece of sword of Han dynasty what is around 2000 years old. It was found in an ancient battlefield in China. And after some travels, it is finally given to me from a customer in the US. I'm very exited with this blade, even if it is just a broken piece.

I'm thinking a new project with this treasure blade. => New Sword 9

2024
November 29

Project Gotoba
She challenged with a blade made of meteorite.

Just after quenching

November 4

Nikko
I visited the shrine Nikko-Futarasan-Jinja-Chugushi to see the swords displayed there. There are many interesting swords and nice swords.

Some of the impressive swords (Pictures are from the catalogue)
No signature

No signature, nickname "Nukemaru"

"Tochika"

November 2

Project Gotoba
The challenger selected a ken style blade. It is a little difficult to heat the both side of the blade evenly to proper temperature, though. He tried clay designing, heating, and quenching.

Just after quenching

October 29

Mt. Haguro in Yamagata prefecture
I went to Mt. Haguro together with my customers and my family. There is a tempel at the top of the mountain, and an old Gassan tachi blade was displayed there. The members, except for me, climed up to the temple by foot. Of course, I drove my car and waited for them at the temple.
Unfortuneately, it is forbiddened to take picture of the blade.

I was inspired with the old Gassan blade. Then, I took water at the waterfall in the temple area of Mt. Haguro. I'm gonna make a Gassan style tachi blade with this water.

August 22

Quenching long blades
Finally I made a quenching work with long blades tonight. It was my first time of long blade quenching after the heart surgery. I had a feeling during the work that I don't want any astonish hamon, but want just a hamon. In other words, hardened edge, that's enough. I have yet checked the result. But I'm happy and I feel I'm blessed. I think to myself I should remember this feeling.

April 27

Project Gotoba
I had a challenger who was trying the Shintogo Kunimitsu style hamon. She is dreaming the famous masterpiece tanto nicknamed "Aizu Shintogo".
Just after the quenching

What hamon will come out of the steel?

(=> Remembrance from the news page)