Culture & Society
San’in Travels: Oki-no-Shima and the Exiled Swordsmith Emperor Gotoba
Part 1: Traveling the San’in: Orochi and the Mythical Origins of the Sword Part 2: Japanese Swords: ‘Tatara,’ […]
Culture & Society
‘Touken Joshi’: Girls Are Infatuated With Japanese Swords, and It’s Good
Three years ago, Touken Ranbu, an online game with personified legendary sword characters, kindled the Japanese sword trend, […]
Culture & Society
Japanese Swords: ‘Tatara,’ the Traditional Iron and Steel Culture of the San’in
The traditional dance performance of Iwami Kagura tells the story of the discovery of steelmaking in Izumo, Japan, […]
Culture & Society
Oku-izumo’s Annual Sword Steelmaking Begins
The raw material used to make Japanese swords is called tamahagane. On January 24, production of the annual batch […]
Culture & Society
Priceless Sword Discovered in Ceiling at Kasuga Taisha Restored
An important twelfth-century Japanese sword, discovered hidden in the ceiling during a 1939 refurbishment of the treasure house at Kasuga […]
Culture & Society
Traveling the San’in: Orochi and the Mythical Origins of the Sword
I recently took a trip to Shimane Prefecture, also known as the San’in region, to research some of the […]
Culture & Society
As Sign of Goodwill, President Putin Returns Swords to Japan
The sword presented by Russian President Putin to Prime Minister Abe was displayed at the Dai Token Ichi on November […]
Culture & Society
Sword Fittings of the Mitsumura Collection on Exhibit November 3 to December 17
Matching pair of sword guards Design by Kongosai (Matsuo) Gassan (1815-1875). 19th C. Nezu Museum, formerly Mitsumura Collection. From November […]
Culture & Society
Japanese Swords Fittings Showcase the Beauty of Impermanence
The Japanese are acutely aware of transient nature of all things. The degree to which they actively acknowledge impermanence […]
Culture & Society
The Sword and Its Importance in Japanese Culture
Photo: The Ama-no-Saka-hoko standing at the peak of Mount Takachiho in Miyazaki prefecture, Kyushu These are an excerpts from the forthcoming […]