Greetings from down under...I am a new boy on the block for this forum, but a long time admirer of the Japanese blade.
My father does have a katana from WWII (picked off the side of the road after being released from the camp in Sumatra) however has not been inspected yet. More on this later.....!
I have been involved in Martial Arts for decades and will be traveling to Okinawa in 3 weeks for a 2 week stay to immerse myself in The Way. I have a letter of introduction to dojo there from my chief instructor here in NZ and would like to experience as much as possible...
Please - can anybody help me ?
I would dearly love to make contact and visit in the Naha region (or Tokyo - I am spending 4 days there on my way home) a sword-smith with view to studying this topic further and promoting the research here in NZ further.
My background of 3 decades is manufacturing engineering and so I understand the blade making process and steel refinement.
I also understand that a visit to a sword-smith is a very special thing and production is very personal.
I have been studying this topic "in my peripheral vision" for a number of years now and want to learn more.
Any advice would be gratefully received, and at a minimum visit some great museums.
Geoff
