Sword making
Visit a local swordsmith and wield a Japanese traditional sword!
Swords have a long history in Japan.
The origin of Japanese traditional swords (katana in Japanese) began about 1,000 years ago.
Japanese swords are well-known for their refined shape and blades so sharp they can cut through an iron helmet! Very few can match the quality and finesse of a Japanese sword.
“Thank you for all the photos - they bring back some great memories - for my son the time at the swordsmith was a once in a lifetime experience - he was very excited by it all and is still talking about it. And despite the weather we all had a great time being shown around in the morning and having that great lunch in a style we could never have experienced on our own. Many thanks for sharing that with us - very special.”
From an English tourist
Traditional Forging Methods:
With the use of bellows, sand iron or old coins, and a charcoal fire, a sword is forged!
Once each sword is forged, the sword is polished and engraved! A scabbard is made after the sword is forged.
Every step is carried out by a master swordsmith!
There are only 250 smiths in Japan certified to forge a sword using the traditional forging methods.
Mr. Tsuneharu Matsuda is the only master swordsmith in Kanazawa. He has created swords for over 20 years at his workshop in the mountains! His shop is located 30 minutes by car from Kanazawa.
Note: A sword is completed using the following process: First is material making,
then forging, then polishing and finally scabbard making and decorating. Each part of the process is carried out by a specialist craftsman.
