The Craft of the Japanese Sword

by Leon Kapp, Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo Yoshihara

Well over a thousand years old, the tradition of swordmaking in Japan is one of the most highly regarded metal crafts in the world. When all sword manufacture was prohibited in Japan for seven years after World War II, the age-old techniques were in danger of being lost forever. Today, in the
hands of a new generation of practitioners, the craft is making a startling comeback. Connoisseurs say that the swords being produced now are the equal of anything made in Japan in the past few hundred years.

This book takes the reader into the workshops of four of Japan's leading sword craftsmen. Each craftsman has a different role in the manufacture of a blade. Yoshindo Yoshihara, the swordsmith, begins with raw steel made in a traditional charcoal-fueled smelter and refines it by folding and forging,
gradually shaping it into a sword with a hardened edge. Okisato Fujishiro then sharpens and polishes the sword with fine stones to reveal the color and texture of the steel. Metalworker Hiroshi Miyajima makes the small copper-and-gold habaki collar that fits between the blade and the scabbard.
Finally, Kazuyuki Takayama carves the hilt and the scabbard out of a single piece of wood. Black-and-white photographs show every stage of the manufacture, while important information on history, metallurgy, and modern-day appraisal is presented in an extensive introduction.

The swords made in Japan today are not, of course, intended for actual use. But their design, the quality of their steel, and the techniques used to create them still derive from the sword's historical function as a lethal hand-held weapon. A sword must be razor sharp, light, well balanced, and
strong, but not so brittle it will break. In the perfect resolution of these qualities lie the beauty of the blade and the challenge of the craft.

This book demonstrates how brilliantly Japan's sword craftsmen today have met this technological challenge. The impulse of the craft now is to preserve the utilitarian object and yet create an enduring art for the modern age. While many fine books on sword appreciation exist, these deal primarily
with older blades or problems of appraisal. The Craft of the Japanese Sword is the first book in English devoted entirely to contemporary sword manufacture, and will thus be of enormous value to metal artists everywhere, as well as to collectors and students of weaponry.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

168 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 1987

Reviews

[Blindzider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this was written in the 80's, it does an excellent job of documenting how swords are made, from the gathering of the ore, the forging, polishing, building of the scabbard. It isn't too technical, contains hand drawings and black and white photos. After reading it, the reader has a very good idea of what it takes to make one the traditional way.

[j · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed, and non-romanticized description of how a Japanese sword is handcrafted. I wish there were more color images in it.

Warning: you will read enough about metallurgy and carbon content in steel to make your eyes glaze. If you are not fascinated with such details, this book will be a total drag.

[S.P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts by talking a bit about history and Japanese sword appraisal. Then gets into the four stages of manufacture

1) Making the blade. Lots of detailed (albeit B&W) photos of the processing of hammering and folding the metal.

2) Polishing. well, polishing and sharpening and generally making the sword metal look as good as it can.

3) Making the Habaki (the bit of metal attached tot eh blade that holds the sword in the scabbard - the only point where the sword touches the scabbard

4) Making the scabbard.

Given the amount of effort and time these four separate craftsmen (and their apprentices) put into making the components it is not surprising how much Japanese swords fetch, and why they are such sought after works of art - I can't imagine any one would ever dream of using one of these (though apparently they do have competitions every year for sword manufacture - when they test the sword by cutting up rice bushels...

An interesting book.

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written introduction to Japanese swords. Includes a concise history of their development. This book is unique in that it concentrates on the current state of the art, (rather then just antiques), including a detailed look at the modern process of manufacturing a traditional Japanese sword.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Describes in some detail the work of the smith, polisher, habaki and saya makers. There is a good deal of technical information for the beginner. It has very good photos. Of course in a book like this I could always use more. Yoshihara is most likely the best smith alive today.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those interested in Japanese swords or Japanese sword making, this book will be a revelation. Covering both the history, and the current day methodology, it presents the depth of skill set necessary to produce an authentic Katana.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started my entire passion of studying, appreciating, and collecting Japanese arms & armour. Found in my local library at the age of 12... never turned back.