My name is Christopher Treichel. I have been reading this message board for some time and find the discussions very interesting.
My interest in nihonto comes from my love of cutting implements as I study any and all methods for their construction and use. My love of nihonto comes from atempting to understand the height of the art of manipulating metal which is present in these works of art created in Japan. I am astounded every time I get to see another, but never forget that they are in their own right tools, albeight very beautiful ones.
I have been grateful to have had the chance to travel to Japan to see the sword museum in Tokyo, to meet a sword smith and have marveled at the collection on display during the special and ongoing exhibits in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. These past two years I have also been studying Nakamura Ryu Batto Do.
I have much to learn...