2025年　8/3

 

朝6時過ぎに鍛冶場へ到着し、包丁の素延べと火造りを開始する。
今回使用した砂鉄は中国地方産のもので、非常に粘り強く、切っ先を落とそうとしてもなかなか切断できない。7月初旬に使ったものと同じ産地の砂鉄であるが、特性に違いがありとても興味深い。包丁よりも、どちらかといえば刀向きの材質であると感じた。
7寸文化包丁と出刃包丁の火造りに取りかかるも熱中症アラートが発令されたため、やむなく作業を中断。
午後からは来客対応があり、向こう槌による公開鍛錬を披露する。鍛錬を重ねるごとに手の皮も厚くなり、刀工試験への備えとしても着実に力を蓄えている。

 

I arrived at the forge shortly after 6:00 a.m. and began the initial shaping and forging of the kitchen knives.

The iron sand used on this day was sourced from the Chūgoku region of Japan. It possessed remarkable toughness—so much so that even when attempting to cut off the tip, it resisted separation. Although it was from the same origin as the iron sand used in early July, its texture and appearance were noticeably different, making it all the more fascinating. I found the material more suited to swordsmithing than to kitchen knives.

I began forging a 7-sun bunka knife and a deba knife, but had to halt work due to the issuance of a heatstroke alert.

In the afternoon, visitors arrived at the forge, and I conducted a demonstration using a traditional assisted forging method, with a striker on the opposite side of the anvil. With each day of practice, the skin on my hands grows thicker, and I steadily prepare myself for the upcoming swordsmith certification exam.

 

 
 
 

　2025年　8/1

 

親方が鐵の祖・金屋子神社へ月参りの参拝に向かわれたため、この日は弟子だけで修業を行う。
毎月恒例の展示場の掃除から始め、休憩所、鍛錬所、火造り小屋、手洗い場、トイレと順に清掃を行う。その後、道具や火床の手入れ、機械ハンマーへの給脂を実施。
午後からは先日ベルトサンダーで粗砥ぎを終えた6寸文化包丁の仕上げ砥ぎを始めるも保育園から長女の体調不良の連絡が入り、急遽迎えに行くこととなり帰路につく。

 

As our master made his monthly pilgrimage to Kanayago Shrine, the revered origin of iron craftsmanship, the day's training was carried out solely by the apprentices.

The day began with the customary cleaning of the exhibition hall, followed in order by the rest area, forging hall, smithing shed, wash station, and restroom. Maintenance of tools and the forge, as well as lubrication of the mechanical hammer, were then performed.

In the afternoon, I commenced the final honing of a 6-sun Bunka knife, previously rough-ground using a belt sander. However, I received a call from the nursery reporting my eldest daughter's sudden illness, prompting me to leave at once and return home.

 

 
 
 

　2025年　7/29

 

早朝6時より3俵の炭を切り、鍛錬の準備を開始する。
親方のおかげで、他の刀鍛冶が欲しくても手に入らない炭が、置き場から溢れるほど山積みになっている。
この炭は、昨年炭焼き職人が焼いてくれたもので、秋になれば今年分の炭を焼いて納品していただく予定とのこと。大切に使わせていただきます。
炭がなければ、刀鍛冶は何もできない。
雑炭で鍛錬を行う刀鍛冶もいると聞くが、松炭でなければ火力が足りず、鐵内部の不純物が飛ばしきれずに残り、傷や膨れが頻発するであろう。
前職の製鉄所でも学んだが、近代製鉄で用いるコークスでは鍛錬中の炭素量の調整ができないため、これも作刀には向かない。
ここ備前長船が「日本刀の聖地」と呼ばれるようになったのも、中国山地で採れる良質な砂鉄と松炭の存在があってこそだろう。
刀づくりが盛んな地域は、同じように環境が整っており、いわば地産地消のようなものだと思われる。

 

At 6 a.m., I began preparing for forging by cutting three bales of charcoal.
Thanks to my master, we have a stockpile of charcoal so large that it's overflowing from the storage area—something other swordsmiths can only dream of obtaining.
This charcoal was made last year by a skilled charcoal burner, and more is scheduled to be delivered this autumn once the new batch is made.

Without charcoal, a swordsmith can do nothing.
I've heard that some smiths use low-grade charcoal, but without pine charcoal, the fire doesn't get hot enough to drive out the impurities in the steel, resulting in frequent flaws or blisters.

I also learned this during my time at a modern steelworks: coke, commonly used in modern steelmaking, is unsuitable for sword forging because it doesn't allow for precise control of the carbon content during the process.

Bizen Osafune likely came to be known as a sacred land for Japanese swords precisely because of the locally available high-quality iron sand from the Chugoku Mountains and pine charcoal.
Other regions famous for sword-making share this trait—ideal natural conditions. It’s what you might call true “local production for local consumption.”

 

 
 
 

2025年　7/27

 

早朝5時30分より準備を開始し、6時ちょうどに炉に火を入れる。
本日は、5キロ強の鉧を半分に切断し、まとめたのち投げ継ぎ、さらに折り返し鍛錬へと進める。
鍛錬の仮付けは、刀工試験を想定して、弟弟子に向こう槌を任せて行う。しっかりと鍛接ができており、まずは一安心。
試験当日は、どの一門の弟子と組むかはわからない。
向こう槌に的確な指示を出すには、技術力だけでなく、気持ちの余裕と、何より場数が物を言う。
実践に近いかたちでの訓練を重ね、自信につなげていきたい。

 

I began preparations at 5:30 a.m., and at exactly 6:00, I lit the furnace.
Today, I cut a kera (a raw steel bloom) weighing just over 5 kilograms in half, bundled the pieces, and proceeded with nage-tsugi (stack welding), followed by the process of repeated folding and forging.

For the initial tack welding stage, I simulated the swordsmith licensing test and had my junior apprentice take the role of the striking assistant. The welds held firm, which was a relief.

On the day of the actual test, I won’t know in advance which apprentice I’ll be paired with.
To give accurate instructions to the striker, it takes not only technical skill, but also mental composure and, above all, experience.
By continuing to train in conditions as close to the real test as possible, I hope to build the confidence I’ll need.

 

 
 
 

　2025年　7/25

 

朝、家事をひと通り済ませて鍛冶場へ向かう。
チベット高気圧の影響か、瀬戸内市は雲一つない見事な快晴となる。
午前中は汗が噴き出す中、休憩所と展示場の掃除に勤しむ。

午後は、前回焼き入れした包丁2本のベルト砥ぎ作業。
ただ、太陽が高く昇っていて刃が反射して見えづらくなってきたため、ある程度のところで切り上げる。
その後、次回の鍛錬に備えて炭を4俵切り終え、時間を見て子どものお迎えへ向かう。

 

After finishing the household chores in the morning, I headed to the forge.
Thanks to a high-pressure system from Tibet, the skies over Setouchi City were completely clear—a perfect sunny day.

In the morning, I worked up a sweat cleaning the break area and the exhibition space.
In the afternoon, I sharpened two knives that I had hardened in the previous session using a belt grinder.
However, the sun had risen high in the sky, and the reflection off the blades made it hard to see clearly, so I wrapped up the task at a good stopping point.
After that, I cut four bales of charcoal in preparation for the next forging session, and then headed out to pick up my child, watching the time.

 

 
 

　2025年　7/20

 

早朝5時半より包丁の素延べ開始。
これは山陰地方原産の砂鉄から作った約2.0㎏の玉鋼を鍛錬したもので、うまく纏まっており疵一つ見当たらない。
削る事無く材料を全て使うことが出来、6寸包丁が2本取れた。
そのまま2本とも火造り、土置き、焼入れと順調に進み荒砥まで終了。
やはり、この鐡は組織が素晴らしく焼きが冴えている。
仕上げ砥ぎが待ち遠しい。

 

Started forging kitchen knives at 5:30 AM.
This steel was made by refining about 2.0 kg of tamahagane sourced from iron sand native to the San'in region. The billet came together beautifully, with not a single flaw or crack in sight. I was able to use the entire material without any grinding loss and managed to draw out two 6-sun (approx. 18 cm) blades.

Both blades went smoothly through forging, clay application, hardening, and rough sharpening.
As expected, the grain structure of this steel is outstanding — the yaki is sharp and lively.
I can’t wait to get to the final polishing.

 

 
 

　2025年　7/18

 

朝は土砂降りの雨。妻と子ども2人を職場と保育園まで送って、その足で鍛冶場へ急ぐ。
着く頃には雨も上がって、今度はギラギラと日差しがきつい。
火を入れて鍛錬を始めたら、あっという間に手元の温度計は40℃超え。途中で休憩を入れながら、集中を切らさないように作業を進める。
暑さに意識を持っていかれそうになりながらも、今日の鍛錬は無事終了。

午後は見学の予約があった為、その準備。
親方の説明がうまくて、営業トークの勉強にもなる。
途中で鍛錬の様子や包丁の切れ味も見てもらって、貿易関係の仕事をしている方から「ぜひ取り扱いたい」と相談を受けた。
自分の手がけた包丁を褒めてもらえて、嬉しかった。

 

In the morning, it was pouring rain.
I drove my wife to work and dropped off our two kids at daycare, then rushed straight to the forge.
By the time I arrived, the rain had stopped, and the sun was beating down hard.

As I lit the fire and began the forging, the thermometer by my side quickly shot past 40°C.
I had to take breaks here and there, trying not to lose focus as the heat wore me down.
Despite the tough conditions, I managed to finish today’s forging without any major issues.

In the afternoon, we had a visitor scheduled for a tour, so I got things ready.
My master’s explanation was smooth and easy to understand — a great example of sales talk I hope to learn from.
We showed them some forging in progress and demonstrated the sharpness of our knives.
One of the guests, who works in international trade, said they were interested in handling our products.
When they praised a knife I had worked on, I felt genuinely proud — it really meant a lot.

 
 
 

　2025年　7/16

 

早朝5時半から炭を切り、6時から鍛錬を開始。
親方から「今回の玉鋼は成分的に包丁より刀に向いているので、沸かしの練習になる」と伺っており、いつも以上に気合が入る。
砂鉄の違いによって鉄の性質が変わるため、沸かしの温度を調整しないと、「折れず、曲がらず、よく切れる」刀はできないと教わった。
実際にやってみると、いつものやり方ではうまくいかず、試行錯誤しながらなんとか数回の鍛錬をこなす。
昼からは6寸の文化包丁を研ぎ、その後、次回の鍛錬に備えて炭を6俵切る。

 

I started cutting charcoal at 5:30 in the morning and began forging at 6:00.
My master told me, "This batch of tamahagane has a composition more suited for swords than knives, so it’ll be good practice for wakashi." That fired me up even more than usual.
I’ve learned that the properties of the steel change depending on the type of iron sand used, and unless you adjust the temperature during wakashi, you can’t make a blade that “doesn’t bend, doesn’t break, and cuts well.”
When I tried it myself, my usual approach didn’t work at all, so I kept tweaking things until I managed to complete a few rounds of forging.
In the afternoon, I sharpened a 6-sun (about 18cm) bunka knife, then cut six sacks of charcoal in preparation for the next session.

  
 

　2025年　7/15

 

朝から包丁の荒砥ぎを済ませ、午後の公開鍛錬に向けて準備を行う。
鍛冶場からあふれるほどの見学者の前で、火花を散らしながら折り返し鍛錬を披露。
大変喜んでいただけたようで、県内の方からは再訪の意向もいただいた。
その後、包丁の試し切りを行い、竹箸やチラシ紙が切れるまでしっかりと包丁を研ぎ上げる。
銘切りと柄付けは次回に持ち越しとした。

 

In the morning, I finished the rough sharpening of the kitchen knives and prepared for the afternoon's public forging demonstration.
In front of a crowd so large it overflowed from the forge, I showcased the folding and forging process with sparks flying.
The audience seemed very pleased, and some local visitors even expressed interest in returning.
Afterwards, I tested the knives, sharpening them thoroughly until they could cleanly cut through bamboo chopsticks and newspaper.
The inscription and handle fitting will be completed next time.

  
 

　2025年　7/13

 

今季初めての早朝鍛錬。
梅雨明けからすでに2週間が経つが、雨は降らず、暑さは和らがない。
日中は火造りや砥ぎ、銘切りの練習が主になるため、涼しい早朝のうちに鍛錬を行う。
気温が低く、作業は順調に進み鍛錬終了。親方に交代し、素延べの作業を見せていただく。
午後からは火造り、ベルトサンダーによる成形、土置き、焼入れ、姿直しまで進めた。
やや炭素量が甘いように感じたが、焼きはきれいに入り一安心。うまくいけば、よく切れる包丁になりそうだ。
砥ぎは次回に持ち越すことにした。

First early morning forging session of the season.
It’s been two weeks since the end of the rainy season was declared, but there’s been no rain and the heat hasn’t let up.
Since daytime is mostly spent on forging, grinding, and engraving practice, I chose to forge in the cooler early morning hours.
Thanks to the lower temperature, the work progressed smoothly and I finished the forging. I then handed over to my master and observed his sunobe (pre-forming) process.
In the afternoon, I proceeded with forging, shaping with the belt sander, applying clay, quenching, and straightening.
The carbon content felt slightly low, but the hardening went cleanly, which was a relief. If all goes well, it should become a sharp, well-performing knife.
Grinding will be done next time.

  
 
 

　2025年　7/6

 
朝7時から、6寸の文化包丁の火造りを始める。

梅雨が明けたばかりだが、作業場の温度計はすでに35℃を超えている。夏場は日中の鍛錬が難しくなるため、早朝の作業が中心になる。
火造りはおよそ1時間で完了。
火花試験は良好で、この鐡は炭素量が高く、焼きもよく入りそうな感触だ。鍛錬がうまく纏まったこともあり、疵も見当たらない。
午後は土置きから焼入れへ。
土置きの通りに、きれいな波紋が入った。ここで切れ味が大きく左右されるが、今回は思い通りの仕上がり。荒砥ぎまで済ませて、ひとまず作業は一区切りとなる。
柄付けは次回に持ち越す。

Started fire forging a 6 sun bunka knife at 7 a.m.
The workshop temperature was already above 35°C.
Fire forging finished in about an hour with good carbon content and no defects.
In the afternoon, clay was applied and quenching done, producing a clean hamon.
After rough grinding, the work paused.
Handle fitting will be done next time.

  
 


 
 
 


 
 


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