Short course on Nihonto forging?

[DanielLee]

Hi all,

 

 

Does anyone know of a short nihonto forging course in Japan? Perhaps a week or so?

 

I was checking out the Seki Sword Tradition Museum and Bizen Osafune Japanese sword museum websites, Bizen Osafune Japanese sword museum offers a 2 day course on kogatana making.

 

http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp/~osa-tok ... /index.htm

 

Any information will be appreciated , thanks!

 

Regards,

 

Daniel

[cabowen]

Daniel-

 

You might try contacting Paul Martin. He may be able to arrange to have you visit the forge of a smith for a forging demonstration. As far as I know, there are no "courses", long or short, offered in Japan on nihonto forging. Alternatively, there are several smiths in the US who forge in the Japanese style; perhaps they may be open to instruction should you find yourself in the US. Best of luck to you.

[John A Stuart]

yes, Paul would be a great help. He is well now. I met a smith in Osafune through Paul, that allowed me to assist for the day and he is such a nice fellow and accomodating that I bet a week could be arranged. John

[Stephen]

If i remember right did you not make a kogatana, John?

[drjoe]

kakuta-san from budoshop offers a variety of classes organized by yoshimitsu takano, a student of ono yoshimitsu.

 

http://www.budoshop.co.jp/EnglishTopPage.html

 

they also offer a week-long course:

 

http://www.budoshop.co.jp/KATANA-Kozuka ... cource.pdf

 

as chris mentions, there are also some opportunities stateside. I can't recommend Michael Bell's class highly enough:

 

http://tomboyama.com/

[Stephen]

3K, HOLY CRAP

[DanC]

Not sure how much of it is a language thing, but the difference between a class/course, demonstration, instruction, or other terms is quite significant and needs to be really clear. A smith that allows you to help during the process of a demonstration, is not teaching a course or necessarlily providing instruction, since you are not learning how to complete the process on your own. No different than any other trade, or skill, really.

 

Personally, I would be hesitant to call anything related to making nihonto that is only a week long, a course. Even a trade school course just to be a certified welder is much longer - to be a certified mechanic or electrician takes a couple years. All of which, are significantly easier than making nihonto. Not that being a good welder or mechanic is easy (I am poor at both), it's just that traditionally making nihonto is very hard. I don't think anyone that hasn't even tried basic metal working, can hope to appreciate how difficult making nihonto is - specially when a master will make it look easy.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Stephen, that was another day course way out in the sticks of Tokyo. John

[DanielLee]

The Budoshop classes look pretty interesting, and it appears to cater to English speaking students too. I think I will include this in my next vacation to Japan, and will definitely report back here if I do attend the lessons.

 

Thanks for the links and advise!

 

Regards,

 

Daniel