Spalte

Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki — Osaka Shinto Smith and the Blade of Sakamoto Ryoma

Choosing Japanese Swords Online — How to Read Product Photos and Specifications

The Truth About Tanto: Why This Shorter Blade Excels as Weapon, Self-Defense Tool, and Secondary Sword—Manufacturing Differences from the Wakizashi Explained

Togishi: Restoring the Hamon — The World of Master Sword Polishing

The Anglo-Satsuma War (1863) and Sword Culture — The Namamugi Incident as Japan's Turning Point from Blades to Cannons

Decoding the Japanese Sword Market — Official Statistics' Limitations and Industry Alternative Indicators

No official nihonto market statistics exist. Industry relies on proxy indicators—certificate registrations and appraiser activity—to understand market scope.

The Niō School: Swordsmiths of Suo Province and the Genealogy of the Niō Legend

Juzumaru Tsunetsugu — A Tenka Goken Tachi Linked to Saint Nichiren and Kuon-ji Temple

Juzumaru Tsunetsugu is the only Tenka Goken worn by a Buddhist priest, showcasing Bitchū Aoe craftsmanship and connections to Saint Nichiren and Kuon Temple.

Tamahagane Selection and Splitting: How Sword Smiths Evaluate and Process Raw Materials

Clay Preparation for Quenching: Soil Formula, Hardness Control, and Hamon Creation

The legendary Japanese sword hardness and hamon patterns are pre-determined by the clay formula applied before quenching, where soil composition controls cooling speed and crack prevention.

Sōshū Yukimitsu and the Establishment of the Sōshū Tradition — Master Swordsmiths' Lineage from the Late Kamakura Period to the Present

Heian Katana Tradition: From Kofun Straight Blade to Curved Blade Evolution

The transformation of Japanese sword morphology from straight to curved reflects military innovation and metallurgical advancement during the transition from Kofun to Heian periods.