Blade Company???

I'm thinking seriously about visiting Japan (for the first time) in January 04. Mostly for a convention, but while I'm there I'd like to visit a sake plant and also a katana blade forge. Here's where y'all come in... A while ago I was reading about kendo and found out about this excellent company--Tokyo Blade Company or Japan Blade Company or something like that--that is supposed to be tops when it comes to manufacturing the multi-layer blades that made Samurai so famous, infamous, and generally reckoned. Its also a rather large company and they offer tours of the forging premises by appointment and I'd like to find out more about that cuz it'd be very sad to miss a blade forge in Japan... But I can't remember the name of the company and I haven't been able to find the page, again.

Does this ring a bell w/anybody? What is this company? Do you know of any similar companies?

Many thnx in advance.


Lord, of your grace all that I hope is this--
Keep the realm of my pleasure prosperous,
Avert from me the calamity of chastity,
And keep far from me the doom of repentance.
~'Ubayd-i Zaakaanii
http://www.livejournal.com/~sjcarpediem


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Dear Stephanie:
Hate to break this to you but all true "Samurai swords" were
produced in small shops. Usually consisting of the master and a few
students. A really large operation might also include a few flunkies. I
do not know of the place you seek but it may be in Taiwan or really just
some sort of modern knife factory. Someone on this group might be able to
direct you to someone that could get you in to see some modern
swordsmithing operation like Yoshindo Yoshihara in Tokyo. Or perhaps one
of the other toko working in the area. There are quite a few in the Tokyo
area. Do be sure to go to the Japanese sword museum or Nihonto
Hakobutsukan and the Tokyo National Museum while there. They are terrific
for viewing the best in japanese swords and art. Also a place called Aoi
art is right around the corner from the Sword museum it is a sword shop.
They have a web site www.aoi-art.ab.psiweb.com/index.html they are
retailers but may be able to arrange a tour for you.
Hope you enjoy your trip. It is a great place to go.
Tom Armour

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Tom Armour wrote:

>Dear Stephanie:
> Hate to break this to you but all true "Samurai swords" were
>produced in small shops. Usually consisting of the master and a few
>students. A really large operation might also include a few flunkies.

Tom I would beg to differ, in the Mid to late-Muromachi there
werre very large operations at Osafune in Bizen and in Mino. Witness
the innurable smiths signing Sukesada, then imagine each as a group
of artists working together and you can get an idea of their numbers.
The work from these shops is known a Kazu-uchi-mono and while derided
by some as pedestrain work, they are still very much "true Samuari
swords".

>I
>do not know of the place you seek but it may be in Taiwan or really just
>some sort of modern knife factory.

Today in Mino (Gifu) there are still many smiths cranking out blades
of all types for sale. Many of these shops are open to the public,
since they are still playing on the reputation of being a center of
sword production. Perhaps thru the TOZANDO website or NOSHYUIAIDO
you'll find links to these.

>Someone on this group might be able to
>direct you to someone that could get you in to see some modern
>swordsmithing operation like Yoshindo Yoshihara in Tokyo. Or perhaps one
>of the other toko working in the area. There are quite a few in the Tokyo
>area.

If you travel to Kamakura on the "Backside" of Kamakura station is
the shop of the 24th generation Masamune swordsmith, Yamamura
Tsunahiro. Yamamura Sensei doesn't speak much English but welcomes
visitors. They always fire up the furnace on Sundays.

> Do be sure to go to the Japanese sword museum or Nihonto
>Hakobutsukan and the Tokyo National Museum while there. They are terrific
>for viewing the best in japanese swords and art.

The sword museum is closed mondays and holidays. Also check out the
Eisei Bunka (Hosokawa family collection), Nezu Bijutsukan, Seikado
bijutsukan and Sano Bijutsukan (in Mishima) for rotating exhibits of
swords.

> Also a place called Aoi
>art is right around the corner from the Sword museum it is a sword shop.
>They have a web site www.aoi-art.ab.psiweb.com/index.html they are
>retailers but may be able to arrange a tour for you.
> Hope you enjoy your trip. It is a great place to go.
>Tom Armour

Check out the Japanese sword index for more info on these and lots more...
-t


http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

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Dear Tom:
I agree completely with your observations. I guess I do fall into
that camp that does not consider Kazu-uchi-mono true samurai swords from
the artistic sense. In my reply I took a rather narrow view for the sake
of brevity. Actually Yasukuni-to was very much a factory operation also.
I really considered these to be kind of historical anomalies. I loved the
suggestion of the Masamune decendant visit. I had forgotten about him.
The Sano is a wonderful place is'nt it.
There are so many good places to visit. My personal favorite is to
visit a temple during a "flea market". I think Takahada Fudo on the third
Sunday of the month to be excellent. Oh well, this could go on forever.
Thanks Tom for stimulating my mind
Tom Armour

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The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
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Ryukoji Second Sunday...
Lord don't I miss that.
-t

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PS if you are going to be in the Tokyo Area and want to visit a sake Kura
Be sure to go to the SAWANOI Brewery, an excellent tour and excellent Sake

-t

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