Clarification of meaning

[John C]

Hello:

While doing research on Kanehide, his biography mentioned the phrase in the pic. Google AI translated it as “exploring the application of hamon and developing techniques to create a hamon that exudes moisture.”

I am assuming they are referring to the "bubble-like" structure of the Martensite crystals, though I'm not sure. 

Is that how it reads in Japanese?

Thank you,

John C.

[John C]

May I follow-up with a guess?

Is the passage above referring to ara-nie, large "boiling water" crystal structure?

 

John C.

[eternal_newbie]

It's referring to the claying techniques that result in steel that is うるおい (uruoi, also written 潤い) - it looks wet, or moist, due to the distribution of the ji-nie and hada catching the light and mimicking beads of water on a wet surface. It was, and is, a highly sought-after feature and kantei point for many high-class makers in Koto blades, and naturally something that more modern smiths worked hard to recreate.

[John C]

Thank you, Rohan. That makes a lot more sense in the context of what Kanehide was trying to accomplish.

 

John C.