Colonne

Northern and Southern Courts Period and Swordsmith Economics: Wartime Demand Driving Growth and Innovation in Forges

Rust Prevention and Corrosion Control in Japanese Swords: Coating Science and Long-Term Storage Mechanisms

Independence of Northern Kanto Swordsmiths After the Kyotoku War

Japanese Sword Collecting Culture in Europe: Enthusiast Organizations and Local Appraisal Practices in Germany, France, and the UK

An overview of Japanese sword enthusiast organizations in Europe—particularly Germany, France, and the UK—and how appraisal and trade are conducted locally.

Hizen Tadayoshi: Founder of the Hizen School and Three Centuries of Sword-Making Legacy

An exploration of the Hizen sword lineage beginning with Hashimoto Shinzaemon Tadayoshi, covering their techniques, clan succession, and connections to the Tokugawa shogunate.

The Kyotoku War (1455–1483) and Sword Culture: How 28 Years of Kanto Conflict Fostered Regional Swordsmiths and Mass-Produced Blade Demand

An analysis of how the Kyotoku War reshaped the sword-making landscape in the Kanto region, focusing on mass-production demand, the rise of local smiths, and the transition to the Sengoku era.

The Science of Yakiware and Hiwari: Blade Fracture Mechanisms and Prevention Techniques Practiced by Swordsmiths

An explanation of the mechanisms behind yakiware (quench cracking) and hiwari (fire cracking) caused by phase transformation during quenching, along with prevention techniques and remediation practiced by swordsmiths.

Sankin-kotai and the Travel Sword: Sword Carrying Culture During Edo Period Long-Distance Journeys

An examination of sword-carrying customs during sankin-kotai processions, the development of travel-specific sword mountings, and the practical sword management of samurai in the provinces.

Copyright and Intellectual Property Protection in the Sword Industry

An analysis of copyright and IP protection for swordsmith designs, hamon patterns, and signatures, along with legal responses to sword imitation and forgery issues.

地景（ちけい）の読み方と種類——日本刀の地鉄に現れる鍛え働きの美と鑑定における判断基準

日本刀の地鉄に現れる「地景（ちけい）」の種類・発生メカニズム・鑑定における重要性を解説。地景の形状分類（直・湾曲・分岐）から五箇伝別の特徴、研師の引き出し技術まで詳述する。

江戸中期の刀剣鑑定ブームと本阿弥家——元禄以降の「正真書」独占市場と鑑定料収入の実態

江戸中期（元禄〜宝暦期）に起きた刀剣鑑定ブームの社会背景と、本阿弥家が独占した「正真書」発行制度の実態を解説。鑑定料相場・流派内競合・偽書問題まで詳述する。

不要刀剣の廃棄・処分手続きガイド——警察届出から自治体回収まで、所有者が知るべき法的義務と実務

不要になった日本刀の適法な処分方法を解説。登録証の確認・警察への届け出・刀剣商への売却・博物館への寄贈まで、銃刀法に沿った手続きの全ステップと費用の目安を詳述する。