Travel
Samurai Spirit of Fukushima: The Shonentai Youth Corps of Nihonmatsu Castle
(First of 3 Parts) At the end of the Edo period (1600-1868), Japan was in turmoil. There had […]
Culture
‘Tatara Watetsu’: Japanese Town Revives Traditional Steel Production
The revival of the tatara method of traditional steel production has begun! A new era in traditional Japanese […]
Culture
Help Bring Home the ‘Sanchomo,’ A National Treasure Sword of Japan
The town of Setouchi in Okayama Prefecture is home to the Osafune Japanese Sword Museum. Osafune, a […]
Culture
Muramasa Dagger Given By Vladimir Putin to Shinzo Abe on Public Display November 16-18
The Tokyo Art Club in Shinbashi is host every year to the world’s largest Japanese sword show […]
Culture
Yasugi: City of Japanese Steel and Samurai
Paul Martin for JAPAN Forward The city of Yasugi has a long history with Japanese steel. […]
Culture
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
‘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
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
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
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
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
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 […]