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Giveaway: Get Tickets for You and a Friend to the ‘Swords of Kyoto’ Special Exhibition
Swords of Kyoto, a spectacular new sword exhibition opened September 29 at the Kyoto National Museum and finishes November […]
Culture & Society
Yasugi: City of Japanese Steel and Samurai
Paul Martin for JAPAN Forward The city of Yasugi has a long history with Japanese steel. […]
Culture & Society
Campaign to Save Japanese Sword Culture Gets Support From Political Heavyweights
On June 22 a written request for a budget increase to train Japanese sword artisans was delivered […]
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 […]