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Einblicke in das Wissen über japanische Schwerter und die Kultur
Tameshi-giri was not merely a test of blade sharpness but a ritualized institution embedded in Edo-period samurai society. This article traces the hereditary sword-testing office exemplified by the Yamada Asaemon family, the culture of recording test results, and the system's abolition with the Meiji sword prohibition.
In Japanese swordsmithing, the smith may perform a quality-checking process called tameshi-uchi before final completion. This process verifies the homogeneity of the steel, the shape before quenching, and the quality of forging, serving as an early detection method for potential failures. This article details the process and judgment criteria.
The Tegai school, based near Kasuga Grand Shrine in Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture), represents one of the five great traditions of Japanese swordsmithing. Flourishing from the Kamakura through Muromachi periods, they forged blades imbued with the spiritual essence of sacred Nara.
日本刀の刃文に現れる「飛び焼き」「湯走り」「金筋」「稲妻」といった特殊な景色（けしき）の発生メカニズムを科学的・技術的に解説し、刃文鑑賞における見方と評価の基準を示す。
The inscriptions carved into a uchigatana's nakago represent a vital record of a swordsmith's technical pride and social standing. Tracing the evolution from simple Muromachi-era place names and smith names to the elaborate date inscriptions, dedication inscriptions, and commission inscriptions of the Edo period reveals the deeper history of Japanese sword culture.
日本刀の拵えを彩る漆芸師の技法体系と、塗師・蒔絵師・螺鈿師が担う刀装具工芸の現代における継承と課題を解説する。
Yakihaba refers to the width of the tempered zone as it extends from the edge toward the spine after quenching. Controlling this width is one of the supreme tests of a swordsmith skill, determined by clay thickness and water temperature during quenching. This article explains the characteristics and control techniques of shallow and deep quenching.
The shinshinto (new new swords) that emerged in the late Edo period (Bunka, Bunsei, and Tenpō eras) had its origin in the philosophy of Suishinshi Masahide, who championed a return to old swords and classical techniques. This article explains the influence that research into classical forging methods and blade patterns had on working sword smiths, and the background of this major movement that spread centered on Kōzuke Province and Edo.
Hizukuri is the forging process that shapes the basic form of a Japanese sword. The heating temperature and hammer timing in the forge determine the blade's shape, curvature, and profile. This article explains how swordsmiths read heat and wield hammers.
An exploration of sword culture during Japan's insei (cloistered rule) period from 1086 to 1185, examining how retired emperors institutionalized sword collection and dedication, how the Genpei Wars transformed demand, and the distinctive blade morphology of the era.
A detailed examination of the kirihazukuri blade cross-section, covering its relationship to armor-piercing tanto and converted naginata, historical origins in the Nanbokucho period, technical characteristics including thickness and edge angle, and connoisseurship guidance for surviving examples.
The naginata features a curved blade mounted on a long shaft. This article explains its historical evolution, modern budo specifications, measurement standards, and appreciation points for sword collectors.
