A Ray of Hope for the Vanishing Culture of Katana Smithing | A Katana Workshop that You Can Visit

●Nihon Genshosha's Website gensho.jpn.com/ Nihon Genshosha is a katana workshop located in Kyotango, the northernmost city of Kyoto. It is located in the center of a beautiful land surrounded by nature and I was very much refreshed. This is the company where the swordsmith who made the massive katana that was on display at Tozando is located. I wanted to come here because of that sword I came across. It is rare to see three swordsmiths working together to make katana at one workshop, and all three men are very young. *The content is based on personal studies and experience There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects ▼My New Channel: Let’s ask Seki Sensei | Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu▼ youtube.com/@letsasksekisensei Are you a Japanese budo martial art lover watching this video? I am now running the best channel for you to learn more about samurai, katana, and budo martial arts from a Kobudo master who is running a 400-year-old Ryuha. Our goal is to achieve 100,000 subscribers by 2023, so please check it out! ▼Interested in learning Iai/Kenjutsu skills online?▼ patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei?utm_medium=clipboa… Interested in taking lessons directly from the 22nd headmaster of Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with 400 years of history, with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo. Every lesson will be recorded and will be available to rewatch anytime. (Learn more about the online lessons: https://youtu.be/ZBXqjXbbknM) ▼Please support me through Ko-fi (a donation platform like Patreon)▼ ko-fi.com/letsaskshogo The management (filming, editing, etc.) of the new Asayama Ichiden Ryu's English Channel "Let's ask Seki Sensei" is completely my voluntary work. If I am not able to pay for the expensive bullet train fare from Kyoto to Ibaraki Prefecture (where the main Dojo is located), and hotel/filming expenses, this activity will cease. Please help us spread and preserve this 400-year-old martial art. In return, I will try my best to create the most educational and exciting content about Japanese Kobudo. ▼The BEST online katana shop for martial arts (Iaido, Kendo, etc.): Tozando▼ tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo Everything I use for my katana training is bought at this shop! I still use the first training katana I bought in 2016, and it is still in good shape! ▼The recommended online katana shop for decorations and cosplay: Mini Katana▼ minikatana.com/SHOGO *Get 15% OFF off all their products by purchasing through my affiliate link ▼Where you can meet me in Kyoto, Japan | Yushinkan Samurai Experience with Modern-day Musashi▼ A 90-minute experience in Japan where beginners can learn how to wield, draw, sheath, and swing the katana from the modern-day Musashi! I, Shogo, will be your interpreter to lead you into the wonderful world of samurai martial arts! Make your reservation here: www.airbnb.com/experiences/4577764?locale=en A video of me visiting this experience: https://youtu.be/MqBCAC42zAM ▼Let's ask Shogo Merchandise Shop▼ Where you can buy t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, etc. of cute Ukiyoe animal characters and logos of Let’s ask Shogo: suzuri.jp/lets_ask_shogo ▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼ www.youtube.com/shorts/kZbyd0OfdC4 ▼MY DREAM▼ www.youtube.com/shorts/WFF3AhN0LXE “To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in” ▼Join our Membership▼ youtube.com/channel/UCn7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVw/join The ticket to the front row seats to Shogo's rapid adventure to make his dream come true! Through the limited videos and live streams, your ideas and opinions will be adopted for Shogo to make the right decisions for his challenges! ▼Sub-channel: “Shogo’s Podcast”▼ www.youtube.com/channel/UCZAe1VayWxp5NLO4Net78DA ▼Instagram▼ www.instagram.com/lets_ask_shogo/ *Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠I do not use e-mail）

There is definitely a lot of love for katana from overseas, especially among foreign anime fans. Perhaps taking online orders, or even custom commissions would help their business. As heavily regulated as they are though, that would probably be quite the undertaking, even more so with the language barrier. There seems to be more demand for katana outside Japan than in though, so it could be worth the extra effort. I'm currently planning my first trip to Japan when I finish my apprenticeship in 2026. Hopefully these guys will still be around and I can add their workshop to my itinerary. I would love to have an authentic Japanese tanto and probably a wakizashi. I'm really short, so I'm not sure how well I'd wield a full length katana.

With the uniqueness of Sengoku-era Japanese cultural artifacts, you would think UNESCO would step in and protect things like this. Katana smithing sounds like what they would label as an Intangible, like certain dances and styles of music.

I really hope that this kind of metalworking never dies out. Part of my ancestry is Scottish. The Scots had a longsword called a Claymore. It was about 120 to 140 cm long or 47 to 55 inches long. There are a few swordsmiths that do make them, but I am not sure of the quality of the steel.

That was absolutely wonderful to watch! The story of them coming together to keep the beautiful Katana in our present and future. Thank Shogo for bringing their story and the making of Katana to us.❤

PLACES LIKE THIS are the kind of places I'D want to see if I can ever make it there. The "maker" traditions in Japan are ALL so amazing...from swords to houses and from tea ceremony items to candy makers...all these disciplines are so utterly fascinating. I AGREE WITH YOU 100% buddy! The Japanese tourism industry would do well to focus on the things like this that are a bit out of the way but well worth the trip to see.

unfortunately this phasing out of traditional sword smithing isn't only in japan. in toledo, spain (europe's sword capital) for example there are only a few sword smiths left who still use traditional techniques. a lot of swords are still sold and manufactured, but the majority of them are made using more modern techniques and machinery, which speeds up the process and lowers the cost of production and sale. it's a shame that traditional techniques are being slowly lost over time. sword smithing won't completely disappear in europe because of modernization, but a lot of the old techniques might be lost. japan does have a different problem though because of legislation on how katana have to be made and eventually may actually phase out completely. katana may also be gradually falling in popularity in japan, but interest abroad is very much high. the problem is importing a true katana from japan is complicated, a legal nightmare (depending on the country) and VERY expensive

I hope we can continue to keep this tradition alive somehow. The time, skill and effort that goes into creating a katana is immense! On its own it is truly an art form that needs more attention and protection to keep alive.

Very cool interview! It's scary to think that long held traditions like the Katana are in danger of disappearing. Thank you for the insight and the glance into your lovely country. Best wishes Shogo!

Making a katana is hard work, but the outcome is so beautiful. 😊❤

That's is so amazing to see this amazing professionals do a really beautiful peace of art! Best of luck to them!

Simply Outstanding, these three young men are striving to keep an art alive! Great presentation!

shogo your elders most love you very much. I hope you become one of the greatest in the field of swordsmanship through your dedication.

That was fantastic. I wish these young guys big success !

This is amazing!! New Swordsmiths, In a new age, for new swordsmen. I think the new spiritual, and Martial arts practitioners would love this. "Swords of a new generation, made for a new generation". Link Saved for when I push the button one day.

This was brilliant. These guys are heroes for trying to keep the art of this craftsmanship going. The government should sponsor scholarships for all the arts. Do they not relise how important they are, not just for Japan but for the inspiration, pure joy and spirituality they bring to the whole world. Thank you for this. Take care. Stay safe 🙏 John and Kate

This is so cool! I bet our Kendo instructor will blow his mind when he sees this. He's a blade(specially katana) enthusiast and often forge knifes as hobby. He hope to someday forge his very own sword

If I ever get to visit Kyoto (or Japan, for that matter), I'll definitely make an effort to visit this workshop. Really nice!

Thank you for this video and I didnt know that katana culture has been decreasing. Hopefully these young men can inspired and teach new generations to keep the culture alive, and so does the other cultures of Japan. Stay strong Japan.

Muy bueno Shogo!!!!. Me encanto tu video. Es muy importante mantener la cultura, forma parte de nuestra identidad, nuestras raíces como ciudadanos de una nación. Un abrazo. 👍👍👍