Begin your experience with a talk on the history of Japanese swords, led by Genrokuro Matsunaga, a swordsmith who has forged more than 1,000 blades over half a century at his forge in Arao, Kumamoto. He began his apprenticeship in 1971 and, after five years of training and a series of examinations, was certified as a swordsmith by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs and went independent in 1978, at the age of 30. His work carries on the Enju lineage of old Higo province — the tradition behind the celebrated Dotanuki blades — and he still works toward a single ideal: a sword that "does not break, does not bend, cuts well, and is beautiful." Learn why swords evolved from straight to curved, what "tatara steelmaking" is, and why Japanese swords are known for their strength and sharpness.
Next, watch a live demonstration by the master swordsmith. Mr. Matsunaga still gathers iron sand himself from the nearby Arao coastline with a magnet and smelts it into tamahagane, the raw steel of the katana — about 9kg of it is hammered down to a finished blade weighing only 800 to 1,000 grams. See the red-hot steel being hammered, folded, and shaped right before your eyes, sparks leaping across the workshop floor. Then, take your turn. Under the guidance of the swordsmith, grab a hammer and strike the heated steel yourself.
After the forging experience, enjoy some shopping time in the workshop. Choose from souvenirs like T-shirts or have your name engraved on a keepsake (at your own expense).
If you choose the matcha option, enjoy a tea ceremony after your forging experience. Prepare and savor a bowl of matcha in the tranquil setting of the workshop, offering a perfect balance to the intensity of the forging process.
