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Tameshiyaki: The Test Quench Before the Final Firing — How Swordsmiths Verify Hamon Patterns in Advance

「試し焼き（ためしやき）」とは、本番の焼き入れに先立ち、刀匠が小片の鋼や同素材の試験刀身を用いて刃文の出方・素材の反応・冷却媒体の状態を確認する工程だ。この「予行演習」が本番の成功率を高める重要な技術判断の場となる。

Warikomi Construction: The Forge-Welding Technique Where Swordsmiths Judge Core and Skin Steel by Heat Color and Timing

A detailed guide to forge-welding in the warikomi construction method, where swordsmiths wrap core steel in skin steel inside the furnace. Covers temperature control, judging the right moment to strike, and modern smiths' techniques for preventing weld failures.

Yaki-naoshi: The Art and Limits of Re-tempering Japanese Swords

Controlling Ji-nie: How Swordsmiths Manage Fine Martensite in the Blade Surface Through Quench Design

A technical explanation of ji-nie (fine martensite particles scattered across the blade surface), covering the role of carbon concentration distribution in martensite formation, the relationship to clay coating patterns, how strong versus faint ji-nie affects appraisal value, and the aesthetics of the nie-deki style exemplified by Soshu-den swords.

Sword Culture in the Keicho, Genna, and Kan'ei Periods (1596–1651): The Social Foundations Behind the Birth of Shinto Swords After Sekigahara

An examination of sword culture across the Keicho, Genna, and Kan'ei periods spanning 1596–1651, covering the birth and establishment of shinto (new sword) production, how the transition to peacetime reshaped blade aesthetics, and the leading swordsmiths and styles of this pivotal half-century.

Lacquer Arts on Japanese Sword Mountings: Vermilion, Aogai Shell, and Ikakeji Techniques in Daimyo Koshirae

The lacquer arts applied to Japanese sword mountings—vermilion, aogai shell inlay, and ikakeji gold-powder ground—are among the most refined decorative crafts in Japanese art history.

The Koshiraeshi: The Sword Mounting Master Who Integrates Tsuba, Menuki, Fuchigashira, Saya, and Tsuka into a Unified Whole

The koshiraeshi is the master craftsman who oversees the complete sword mounting, coordinating tsuba, menuki, saya, and tsuka-maki into a cohesive artistic whole.

Metezashi: The Equestrian Warrior's Right-Hand Dagger and Its Role in Mounted Combat

An examination of the metezashi, the short sword worn on the right (bow) side by mounted samurai during the Sengoku period, covering its structure, tactical role, relationship to the yundetezashi worn on the left side, blade morphology, surviving examples, and its place in contemporary sword collecting.

How Japanese Sword Dealers Source Their Inventory: Auctions, Estates, and Overseas Procurement

How Japanese sword dealers actually source their inventory, from auctions and estate clearances to overseas buyers and direct deals with swordsmiths.

Inside Japan's Sword Fairs and Bid Auctions: The Economics of the Sword Industry's Marketplaces

A comprehensive look at how sword fairs, bid auctions, and antique markets work in Japan, covering the roles of organizers, consignors, and buyers, the difference between bid auctions and direct sales events, fee structures, major venues and schedules, and the impact of online platforms.

Swords in the Tenwa-Jokyo-Genroku Era (1681-1703): How the Shift from Martial to Civil Rule Transformed the Sword Market

The Tokugawa Tsunayoshi era saw a profound shift from martial to civil rule. This article examines how those political changes transformed Japanese sword production, aesthetics, and market dynamics.

The Rise of Independent Tsuba Makers and School Formation: How Japan's Guard Craftsmen Became a Specialized Art Lineage

An explanation of when and how tsuba (sword guard) makers separated from swordsmiths to become an independent craft specialty, covering the evolution from Kamakura-period dual roles to Azuchi-Momoyama independence, Edo-period school formation, the master-apprentice system, and the contemporary tsuba artist scene.