Shigotoba

Where it all happens.

For good luck

Offerings hung on the electric hammer so the Shinto spirits will bless his work

The Beginning

The initial creation of the ingot of steel that will eventually create the blade.

Ingot

Tanren

Tanren is one of the first steps of the creation of a blade. This step is where the ingot of iron is folded and lengthened repeatedly.

Work of many

Well established smiths tend to have apprentices to do the heavy hammering. Here, an electric hammer suffices.

Folding

The initial ingot of steel is split, folded and lengthened over a dozen times. It is this repeated folding which creates the famous layers in a Japanese blade.

Dougu

Some of the tools of his trade: hammers, wedges, anvil, brush and hand-woven mat of rice stalks.

Calculation

Fireworks

Swordsmith Takami Kuniichi

Sumi

Hand-cut charcoal used in the forge. Various sizes are used scientifically in order to more accurately control the intensity of the heat of the flame.

Curtain of sparks

Naosu

The stage of "naosu" or repair is where the lengthened rough blade is fine-tuned.

Smoke show

Cool it

Fine tuning

Calm

Tsuchi

Break time

Planning

Historical reference books are a large part of planning out what the hamon will look like.

Yakibatsuchi

Painting on the clay mixture. After firing, the pattern will be imparted into the steel. The exact ingredients of the clay is a closely guarded secret.

Flames of creation

During tanren, working the forge is done in very low light so that the reading of the temperature of the forge can be done accurately. Since the correct temperature is even more critical during yaki-ire, the final tempering, the workshop is completely void of any outside light sources.

Yaki-ire

The final firing of the blade that tempers and imparts the pattern of the hamon. This step is the most difficult and literally the "make or break" step in the creation of a blade. If a blade fails, this will be the step in which it happens.

Reveal

The initial reveal of the hamon by removing the yakibatsuchi.

First look

It's time for the first look of the finished blade having come from the polisher.

Hamon

This hamon pattern is referred to as "choji-midare" or the clove pattern due to its similarity to the spice.

Hamon and Jihada

Detail of the hamon (blade pattern) and the jihada (pattern created by the folding of the steel)

Preparation

Preparing the tang of the blade by putting a file pattern onto it. The signing of the tang (meikiri) will be the last step in the creation of the blade.

Wrapped and ready

Almost complete

Meikiri: carving in an inscription and his name into the tang of the blade.

Meikiri