Swordsmithing

Well over a thousand years old, the tradition of swordmaking in Japan is one of the most highly regarded metal crafts in the world. When all sword manufacture was prohibited in Japan for seven years after World War II, the age-old techniques were in danger of being lost forever. Today, in the hands of a new generation of practitioners, the craft is making a startling comeback. Connoisseurs say that the swords being produced now are the equal of anything made in Japan in the past few hundred years.

The Tradition

Koto: Early Swords

Shinto

Shinshinto

Gendai

Sword by Masamine

Japanese Sword Terms

8. credits

THE TRADITION

Over a period of fifteen hundred years, the craft of the sword in Japan has developed in response to the sword's evolution as a weapon. As a weapon, the sword had to be efficient, reliable, and practical. The major technological challenge for the Japanese swordsmith here was to develop a series of techniques by which two conflicting qualities of steel-hardness and ductility -could be brought together in a single blade.

The Sword had to be hard so that it could take and maintain a sharp cutting edge. But hard steel is brittle and will crack or ship under the stress of a heavy blow. The solution, the Japanese smiths learned, was to wrap a core of soft (that is, low-carbon) steel in a jacket of hard (high-carbon) steel, and then harden only the edge of the blade by heat-treating it.

Virtually all of what we consider the craft of the sword today derives from this basic technique. Beautiful blades are by definition well made. For example, the decorative pattern of the hardened edge, called the hamon, serves only an aesthetic purpose. Yet it demonstrates that the smith has indeed hardened the steel, and it imitates the formidable cutting power of the blade. Other attractive features of the metal-it's color, texture, and tight welds- similarly testify to the ability of the smith. Appearance was important in olden times, for often a blade could not be truly tested until one's life depended on it.

Koto: Early Swords

The technology that led to the development of the Japanese sword probably originated in China and was brought to japan by the way of Korea. The oldest steel swords found in japan have been recovered from tombs dating back to around the fourth or fifth century A.D. These blades, called chokuto, are straight and have a single cutting edge. A number of them have been partially polished and clearly have hand-forged steel as well as hardened cutting edges. Some of these were so thin that when held parallel to the ground they bend from there own weight; it seems likely they were ceremonial and were never used as weapons.

By the Heian period (794-1185), when the capital was established in Kyoto, the Japanese had made great progress in improving the imported steelworking techniques.We now see what we can fairly identify as a Japanese sword.

This description is taken from MEIBUTSU Japanese swords and fittings in American collections. (1979) pg. 8

Bizen Nagamori Attributed to Bizen Osafune

Nagamori Class: Juyo Token Type: Nagamaki-naoshi katana

Mei: Mumei (o-suriage)

Period: Nambokucho Length: 66.2 cm

Province: Bizen Sori: 1.5 cm Moto-kasane: 0.7 cm

Saki-kasane: 0.5 cm

Sugata: Nagamaki-naoshi shobu-zukuri, iori-mune, moderate torii-zori

Nakago: O-suriage, kiri-jiri, kiri-yasuri, two mekugi-ana, slight sori,

length: 14 cm Ji-hada: Itame mixed with mokume, chikei

Hamon: Choji-midare, nioi-deki, kinsuji, ashi

This nagamaki-naoshi katana is attributed to Nagamori, a Bizen Osafune smith, whose dated blades begin with the 3d year of Jowa (1347) and extended over a period of roughly 35 years. Nagamori, the son of Nagashige, traditionally was thought to be a student of Chogi, one of the Ten Brilliant Pupils of Masamune. But recent study of his dated swords indicates he worked earlier, and though his relationship with Chogi remains unclear, he would have been about the age of an elder brother. One of Nagamori's nagamaki-naoshi katana has been designated Juyo Bunkazai (important Cultural Property) by the Japanese Government.

Shinto/The New sword Era Shinto period

In the mid 16th century (late Muromachi era) great battles were fought throughout Japan. Larger swords were used during this time called Uchi-Gatana. In the Momoyama era the use of foreign metals was prevalent in some sword smiths works. This description is taken from MEIBUTSU Japanese swords and fittings in American collections. (1979) pg. 36

Toshinori (Jukaku) Toshinori (jukaku)

Class: Tokubetsu Kicho Token Type: Katana

Mei: HAMABEI MINO (NO) KAMI FUJIWARA TOSHINORI

Ura: TENMEI SHICHI-NEN NI-GATSU HI (February day, 1787)

Period: Mid to late Edo Length: 27 1/2 " Province: Inaba

Sugata: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki Nagato: Ubu, ha-agari-kuri-jiri, sujikai-yasuri, one mekugiana, nine-character katana-mei, seven-character date on ura

Hamon: Choji-midare Boshi: straight, hakikake, long kaeri

Toshinori, the founder of a school in Inaba that bore his name, worked in the transition period between the Shinto and the Shinshinto eras. The unusual characters he chose for his name are also read "Jukaku", so besides spanning two swordmaking eras, he also is frequently listed under the two readings of his name. Born in Tottori in the third year of Enkyo (1746), Toshinori studied under several smiths, principally Masanao and Kanesaki. Toshinori, who first signed his swords Kaneyoshi (his common name was Hamabei Gonzaemon or Kurozaemon) is known to have made blades in Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka. He was awarded the title Mino no Kami in the fifth year of Tenmei (1785) and was 66 when he died in the seventh year of Bunka (1810). He was the father of Minryasai Toshizane. Toshinori's work was the best of his group and none of his students became particularly famous. He made swords with muji or ko-itame-hada kitae; their hamons, based on a closed-up line of nioi, are hoso-sugu or ko-choji-midare.

Shinshinto/New new sword era Shin Shinto - new new swords - 1781-1886

During the Edo Era a flamboyant style of temper line came into design. This was due to the peaceful atmosphere of Japanese society. This description is taken from MEIBUTSU Japanese swords and fittings in American collections. (1979) pg. 40

Yamato no Kami Motohira

Class: Koshu Tokybetsu Kicho Token

Type: Wakizashi

Mei: YAMATO (NO) KAMI ASON OKU MOTOHIRA

Ura: KANSEI GO-NEN AKI (Fall, 1793)

Period: late Edo Length: 55 cm

Province: Satsuma Sori: 1.1 cm Moto-haba: 3.5 cm

Sugata: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki

Nakago: Ubu, Kengyo-jiri, katte-sagari-yasuri, one mekugiana, nine-character katane-mei, five-character date on ura,

length: 15.9 cm

Ji-hada: Ko-itame Hamon: Guname-midare-ha, long Satsuma-style imo-no-tsuru

Boshi: Hakikake

Gendai/Contemporary Swords Gendai (Kindai) - contemporary swords - 1887-1945

With the Meiji period (1868-1912) arrived the modern times as well as modern warfare, such as guns. An imperial decree was passed that prohibited the wearing of swords. In 1906 the Imperial government appointed two contemporary master swordsmiths to the positions of Imperial arts and Imperial crafts artisans to insure the survival of the technology of Japanese sword making. This description is taken from MEIBUTSU Japanese swords and fittings in American collections. (1979) pg. 44

Ikkansai Shigetsugu

Class: Tokubetsu Kicho Token

Type: Katana

Mei: OTIE TOYAMA MITSURU TEINAI KASAMA IKKANSAI SHIGETSUGU SAKU

Ura: SHOWA JUNI-NEN HACHI-GATSU HI (August Day, 1937)

Period: Showa

Length: 60.8cm

Province: Tokyo Sori: 1.2 cm

Sugata: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki

Nakago: Ubu, kuri-jiri, kiri-yasuri, one mekugi-ana, long katana-mei; date, etc. on ura

Ji-hada: Mokume mixed with ko-itame

Hamon: Gunome-midare-ha

Boshi: Midare-komi, ko-maru, medium-long kaeri

Kasama Ikkansai Shingetsugu (1885-1965) was a leading Gendai swordsmith and a master carver. Shigetsugu, who dtudied with Shigetoshi and Morioka Masayashi, is counted among those smiths who keep the craft alive until its revival in the Showa period. The inscription on the nakago of this sword indicates it was made at the estate of Toyama Mitsuru (1844-1944), who is probably best known as the moving spirit behind the Koku Ryu Kai (Black Dragon Society). An ultra-nationalist, a man of unrestrained energy and a great organizer, he assumed an important role in the annexation of Korea and the invasion of China. There were many swords forged at the Toyama estate, and many were evidently given to the cadre of dedicated young junior officers whom Toyama so effectively inspired. Shingetsugu's common name was Kasama Giichi; he was said to specialize in tempering nie-based choji-midare hamons.

Photos by: Mr. Okisato Fujishiro

Mei (Signature): "SANRYU MASAMINE TSUKURU KORE HEISEI 5 NEN 2 GATSU HI"

Size:

Ha Watari (Length) - 74.6 cm.,

Sori (Curvature) - 3.0 cm.,

Moto Haba (width at the bottom) - 3.5 cm.,

Saki Haba (Width at the Yokote) - 2.6 cm.,

Moto Kasane (Thickness at the bottom) - 0.75 cm.,

Saki Kasane (Thickness at the Yokote) - 0.55 cm..

Type: Shinogi Zukuri, Iori Mune.

Jihada:

Ko Itame Hada with Chikei and abundant Ji Nie, lots of Kinsuji and Yo appear actively, Nioi Guchi is thick and bright.

Hamon:

Choji Midare mixed with Nioi Deki and long Ashi and Ko Nie, lost of Kinsuji and Yo appear actively, Nioi Guchi is thick and bright.

Boshi:

Sugu and Ko Maru with Gunome Ashi then turns back.

Horimono:

Bo Hi with Maru Dome in both sides, Kurikara in the bottom of Hi of the Omote (front) and embossed Honji in the Ura (back).

Nakago:

Kensho Yasuri, Ha Agari Kuri Jiri, one Mekugi Ana.

Horimono (Carving): By Senju Yanagimura Togi

(Polish): By Takushi Sasaki Habaki

(Metal Collar): By Hiroshi Miyajima Shirasaya

(Plain Scabbard): By Susumu Kokushi