OSHINAGA MENUKI

Today, a lay person can usually see or feel the difference in quality between his work and that of his contemporaries and successors.  There was something he was able to instill in his craft that others could never quite duplicate.

Through modern science we’ve come to understand some of the techniques that made Unkei able to succeed in filling us with a sense of wonder.

Unkei understood perspective....

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Always, one guardian has his mouth open.  This is “A”.  The other guardian’s mouth is always closed.  This is “Un” and together the sound becomes “Aun” which is also the name of the hidden principles in martial arts training.

These guardians have many manifestations but are typically known as “Kongo-Rekishi”.  When threatened or angered they coalesce forces spiraling up into the sky like a gatherin...

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The quality of the silk used, the quality of the dyes and how the colors are set and most importantly the choice of weave have a great deal to do with what discerns a great sageo from a mass produced item.Traditionally, the weave was considered a secret process as done properly, the sageo had a martial value as armor according to documents dating back to the 11th century.Today, the concept of mart...Read More

  "Twilight Samurai"  The movie...

There was a very interesting moment in the movie - did you spot it?

I must admit that I didn't - the first time I saw the movie.  Eventually I caught it and then had great fun to learn that one of our associates, an accomplished Japanese koshirae maker who does not study swordsmanship was very impressed with the scene too!  We felt like members of a very exclusive ...

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The Japanese sword is an icon recognized all over the world for its’ lethal beauty and craftsmanship.  Over time, some of the attributes assigned to the Japanese “Shinken” (Pure or true sword) have been embellished as well.

In a Hollywood movie called “The Bodyguard” a silk scarf is parted effortlessly as it lights on the edge of a Japanese blade thus suggesting a sharpness that is almost ethereal....

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