This is a tour of my smithy here in Shimizu, Japan. The smithy has over a century of recorded history as the workplace of a village blacksmith. Only the forge itself has been refitted for sword making.

Katana-kaji – Forge

This is a tour of my smithy here in Shimizu, Japan. The… Continue reading →

The forge used by swordsmiths in Japan is inconvenient for delicate work because it is deep and remote from the smith (it's made for long things) Some smiths therefore design a miniature forge they can put away and take out as they need. I checked several designs and built this one on wheels, with its own blower, making it thus «plug-and-play»!

Japanese style miniature forge – Mini-hodo

The forge used by swordsmiths in Japan is inconvenient for delicate work… Continue reading →

Mei-kiri — mei = signature; kiru = to cut
Mei-kiri is the action of “cutting” or engraving a signature onto a finished japanese sword tang. The same expression is also used in other trades.

Mei-kiri — mei = signature; kiru = to cut

Mei-kiri — mei = signature; kiru = to cut Mei-kiri is the… Continue reading →

An interesting project elaborated by director Mélanie Dion. Each week presents a Québécois living in a foreign country, and a National from that country living in Québec, their lives, exchanges, experience.

Terres d’échanges Japan Trailer

An interesting project elaborated by director Mélanie Dion. Each week presents a… Continue reading →

A week spent at Japanese swordsmith Manabe Sumihira’s helping out with the operation of his tatara. Manabe chose to operate a pig iron smelting zuku-oshi tatara instead of the more commonly known kera-oshi.

The pig iron decarburizing process can be seen here (in Japanese, click on various links): http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~sumihira/19sageba/00sage/00sage%20.html

More details are available on these pages:
Home-made steel: A week at Manabe Sumihira’s Zuku-oshi Tatara
The Sumihira Zuku-oshi Tatara

Manabe Sumihira Zuku-Oshi Tatara

A week spent at Japanese swordsmith Manabe Sumihira’s helping out with the… Continue reading →