The Japanese sword?an icon of Japanese culture with a history spanning over a thousand years.
From its mythical origins and historical evolution to its artistic refinement and the challenges of preservation today, British sword scholar Paul Martin explores every facet in this new series.
Delving into the beauty of blade shapes and hamon patterns, the processes of tatara smelting, forging, and polishing, as well as the artistry of mountings, the postwar export issues, firearm and sword laws, and the realities faced by modern swordsmiths?this series reexamines the present and future of the Japanese sword as a living cultural heritage.
※Each installment of this series is available for a limited time only―don't miss it!
Paul Martin
Paul Martin is from England and resides in Tokyo. A former curator at the British Museum, he is currently a Trustee of the Foundation for Japanese Sword Culture for the Purpose of Public Interest, as well as a recognized specialist for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.In 2006, he became the first non-Japanese to win the sword appraisal competition at the Japanese sword museum. He went on to win a second time in 2018. Paul has appeared in many documentaries all around the world, translated several major sword books and exhibition catalogs and is quoted by the Osafune Sword Museum as being, “One of the foremost non-Japanese specialists on Nihonto”. A former three-time English Karate Champion, Paul practices martial arts in Japan and holds high ranks in both Kendo and Iaido.
Author: Japanese Swords and Armor, Masterpieces from Thirty of Japan’s Greatest Samurai Warriors (Tuttle ISBN 978-4805318386)
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