NEWS
2024
March 09
The exhibition "Masamune and his students" at Fukuyama Art Museum
Many nice and interesting swords were displayed there. But still, Masamune
is legendary smith and all of his swords are more doubtful. There were
no genuine Masamune swords displayed. All of "Masamune" there
were no-signature and attributed to him. It was a big joke.
Book of the exhibition
After seeing the exhibition, I went to an old port town "Tomonoura".
It was nice.
February 22
Project Gotoba
I made a workshop of project Gotoba for a challenger from the US. This
time, the blade was in Kobuse steel construction.
On the work of clay designing
Heating and quenching
Just after the quenching work
What hamon will come up?
February 9 and 10
Visiting the Tatara furnace in Shimane prefecture
I visited there. I watched only two days. Feb. 9 - it was the third day of their work of smelting. They keep putting sand iron and charcoal into the furnace for three days. Feb. 10 - in the morning, the bellows are stopped. And they break down the furnace and take the big iron out of the bottom of the furnace. It was exciting and amazing.
Later, the big iron is broken into small pieces. It is the tamahagane.
2023
December 11
The Kanesada tanto what our friend found at a cheap antique market is
re-polished.
=> sword6
December 9
Interesting swords in Nikko
I went to Nikko today. I saw some interesting blades in the shrine "Futarasan-jinja-chugushi".
Some of them are very old from 11th century or 12th century. And their
iron habaki also are interesting. Unfortunately it is forbidden to take
pictures.
November 17
Project Gotoba
What hamon will come up?
October 9
Project Gotoba
This time, we didn't get success.
September 25
Project Gotoba again
I made a workshop of project Gotoba for a challenger from the US. This
time, the blade was a shobu-zukuri style. I hope it have a nice hamon all
through the blade.
Clay designing
The clay popped off in the water when he put the red-hot blade into the
water.
August 24
Project Gotoba
A challenger from the US came to my forge. He tried to create hamon by
himself. He did the clay designing, heating and quenching. We have yet
know what hamon comes out of the steel.
August 16
I went to the hospital to take three-month check after the surgery. The
results suggest everything is going well. What is more, the doctor finally
allowed me to drink beer. Now, I can go back to my job slowly. But it may
need some while till I get back my muscle and strength to make sword.
May 27
I returned home from the hospital.
I will heal my self at home. And slowly come back to my original calling, sword smith. Thank you for the encouragements you customers gave me.
May 16
I'm sorry I'm in hospital.
As a matter of fact, I have been in a bad health condition from the last
summer. And recently I decided to accept the advice of the doctor to take
surgery. I took the surgery on May 16. I took an operation to replace the
main valve of my heart with pig's one. I will have to suffer on the bed
in the hospital for a while. The doctor said it would need at least three
months to recover from the surgery. So I will be able to be back to my
job around the end of August or beginning of September. I'm very sorry
for the delays of the works. Oink, oink!
Card from kids of my friend family
Card from an orphanage
February 5
Small trip to "Dan-no-ura"
I went to the straits Dan-no-ura where had a famous battle between Taira
clan and Minamoto clan in 12th century. The young emperor "Antoku"
died there, and his sword also was missing. The sword was the avatar of
the sword "Kusanagi" what is the symbol of emperor, while original
has been kept deep in the Astuta shrine in Nagoya.
I was impressed with the fast tide at the strait. I imagined that the young
emperor sank under the see with his sword. I took some water from the sea,
because I got an idea to make a ken blade with the water. (=> New sword4)
(=> Remembrance from the news page)
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