Standing On Boxes

But Jim O’Connor, who does their “Secret History of…” and “All American Festivals” is certainly enthusiastic but I think he needs to turn it down a bit…

Watching a show on the History-International channel on the creation of real Japanese swords. The Master Swordsmith starts the fire in his forge by quickly beating a small piece of steel until it it glows red and is hot enough to light paper.

Factoids

They are allowed to only make two swords a month.

$25KUS for a sword by a modern Japanese Master Swordsmith…?

Kenjitsu (samurai sword training) is much older and not the same thing as kendo (a post-WW II invention) – or so they say.

Master Swordsmiths don’t polish their own swords (!). There are specialists (Master Polishers?) who spend 10 days to turn the blade of a newly made sword into a work of art.

[Note: This was from an episode of History International’s show “Almanac”:
The Master: Masamune–Samurai Sword Master. - doesn’t seem to be listed with any future airdates.