This showed that the forging process alone demands not only great skill but also patience. In some cases, the steel cracked and the pair had to discard it and start over again with a new piece. This task, which took over 30 seconds each, was repeated six times while we were present, and continued even after we left. He swung down a hammer using his whole body as Yoshihara held the burning steel in place with a metal implement. The steel is heated to the highest temperature possible while making sure it doesn't melt completely, and the impurities are beat out with a hammer."Īt the workshop, 31-year-old trainee Kei Tsujimura, demonstrated this task of forging. This involves forging stacked pieces of tamahagane into a bar that is repeatedly stretched through hammering and folded over onto itself. "A crucial process is 'orikaeshi tanren,'" he said. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) =Click/tap photo for more images. Tamahagane steel, which is used to create Japanese swords, is seen in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. In addition to the special ingredient, Yoshihara also holds pride in the traditional method for creating katana. Showing a round piece of the rare and precious material, which was decorating the living room, Yoshihara stated proudly that it was the key to producing iron of high purity. "The first basic fact about authentic katana is that they are made of 'tamahagane steel.' If it's not 'tamahagane,' it can't be considered a blade," said 79-year-old swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara, at his home in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward. (Japanese original by Tadahiko Mori, The Mainichi Staff Writer)Ī word of wisdom: It may look stylish, but it's not a real katana if it can't cut well Behind the creation of such authentic katana are the genuine and diligent efforts of sword craftsmen. Yoshihara's custom-made katanas, which cost 5 million yen (about $41,000) apiece, were created over a long period to fulfill the needs of such fans. Katana, which used to be weapons, are loved by not only the Japanese, but also by enthusiasts around the world, as traditional art objects. Though it is not a weapon, it can be said that having both functionality and beauty is the role of modern Japanese katana," Yoshihara said. There are no two hamon patterns which are the same. If the blade is attached fittingly, a beautiful 'hamon' pattern also appears along the edge of the sword. Katana must be the pinnacle of metal hardware for ironmongers who wish to master the creation. "In the past, there were blacksmiths' shops in any town, and they created kitchen knives, farming tools and other implements. When a trainee struck this with an iron hammer, clangs continuously echoed throughout the workshop.Ī heated tamahagane, to be used as material for Japanese katana, is being repeatedly hammered in accordance with verbal cues from Yoshindo Yoshihara, in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. When a "tamahagane" is placed inside and heated, the steel also turns red. The furnace is around 800 to 1,300 degrees Celsius. Pine wood charcoal used as fuel burned with a bright red flame. In the center was a traditional "hako fuigo" (box bellows) - a wooden structure that allows the smith to supply air blasts to the forge by pulling and pushing the handle slowly back and forth. We were shown some steps from the process to create katana swords at the workshop in Tokyo. Indeed, this thing is too scary to swing around." In historical movies and television dramas, battling scenes that use katana are crucial elements, but did people in the old days really fight using these katana swords? Yoshihara said, "The Edo period was a peaceful age, and so I think that battles involving opponents actually slashing each other with authentic katana were limited. It was relatively heavy, even when held with both hands, and a scary tension ran through the body upon close observation. Its length is around 72 centimeters, and its weight over 1 kilogram, and the "hamon" wave patterns seen along the edges of the blade were shining beautifully but also mysteriously. He then proceeded to show us a "shinken" (authentic) katana removed from its sheath. Of course, since it was originally created as a weapon, it has the ability to cut," said Yoshihara. "Steel called 'tamahagane,' which uses domestic satetsu, an iron ore that is found in sand form, is used to create nihon-toh. Swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara shows a katana in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb.
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