Learn the Art and Spirit of Katana: A Private Meikiri Engraving Experience with a Master Mukansa Swordsmith

The Katana as Talisman and Prayer, Preserved by Shinto and the Imperial Line

The katana – or as it is more properly known in Japanese, the nihonto (literally “Japanese Sword”) – is probably best known as the iconic weapon of the samurai, with an associated history in warfare. This, however, is but one dimension of its significance. Deeply associated with the spiritual and religious traditions of Shinto since ancient times as a protective talisman, its non-curved ancient predecessor also appears at the very roots of Japanese mythology in the form of the Kusanagi no Tsurugi (literally “Grasscutting Sword”) – a blade that appears in the oldest surviving records of Japanese history, the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, written in the 8th century.

The Kusanagi sword makes up one-third of the treasured regalia of the Imperial House, and has been passed down by successive emperors to mark ascension to the nation’s throne since time immemorial – making the sword-as-talisman an integral part of the family’s symbolism and iconography. Swords have also been used as objects of divine offering for just as long, as in the rituals of the Grand Shrine of Ise – one of Shinto’s most venerated sites. The swords of Japan have played a variety of roles in the country’s history and traditions. By learning about these, you can discover the spirit of prayerful protection that lies at its cultural heart.

The Technique and Philosophy of Norihiro Miyairi

Miyairi Norihiro is a swordsmith who has attained the top rank certification of mukansa tosho. He is also a rare specialist who not only preserves tradition but resurrects history – smithing authentic replicas of ancient blades in the modern era. A veritable wunderkind of the forge, Miyairi was certified a mukansa tosho at an exceptionally young age. In 2010, he was awarded the Masamune Award—Japanese swordsmithing’s most prestigious honor—further distinguishing him as one of the few living masters to have achieved this pinnacle of craftsmanship.

Miyairi’s line is heir to the Soshu school (one of the five major traditions of Japanese swordsmithing), and he apprenticed under Masamine Sumitani, a swordsmith of the separate Bizen school who is registered as a Living National Treasure. He then completed his training in the Miyairi style, ultimately transcending boundaries and perfecting a unique assortment of smithing techniques that are as much tradition as innovation.

Miyairi’s exceptional smithing skills have garnered him commissions to create ancient sword replicas for esteemed organizations across Japan and beyond, including the Imperial Household Agency (the government body responsible for the affairs of the Imperial House) and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Resurrecting the swords of history is an exacting craft that requires perfectly recreating everything about them, from their metallic compositions to their specific curvatures and sheens, to their distinctive hamon (blade edge differential hardening pattern). Miyairi uses every method at his disposal to do so, analyzing the blades through a microscope, consulting historical literature, and creating numerous prototypes in his quest to restore the brilliance of these ancient treasures.

One such example was a sword created by the master 12th-century swordsmith Bizen Osafune Kagemitsu, with a subtle and distinctive misty blurring of the hamon pattern between its hardened cutting edge and the softer spine metal of the blade. This unique artistic pattern, known as kuro utsuri (literally “black reflection”), was created with a secret technique known only to Kagemitsu himself – and thus lost to history. “For us swordsmiths who come after, these puzzles are almost a form of play,” says Miyairi. Staking every fiber of his being on solving the mystery, he managed a faithful recreation of Kagemitsu’s blade – becoming only the second person in a millennium to master the subtle techniques of kuro-utsuri.

A Glimpse of Iron Forging in the Ritual of Firing

This experience takes place at Miyairi’s Tomi City home smithy in Nagano Prefecture. Expansive windows provide plenty of natural light as well as panoramic views of the prefecture’s mountains, for a serene and calming workshop environment that is worth a visit by itself. Miyairi says these conditions were exactly what he sought in a forge: “A quiet place without distractions – or excess humidity.”

The experience starts off in Miyairi’s cozy living room, where he offers instruction in the vital iron production process, accompanied by a video. Learn to discern the suitability of iron for each role and purpose – such as practical use or historical recreation – and how to stretch and harden it through the process of forging.

After the video, Miyairi leads the way to the smithy for a look at the actual process of forging. The central process of firing – in which a sword is heated, hammered, stretched, folded, and forged – has such a gravity that it has at times been regarded with the significance of a religious ceremony. Here you can experience the birth of a sword up close with your own senses: watching the swordsmith’s movements, feeling the heat, hearing the hammering, and smelling the forge.

The World through the Eyes of a Swordsmith: A Microcosm within the Blade

Through this experience, Miyairi teaches how to appreciate a sword up close: how to handle it, and what to look for in it. The term keshiki (literally meaning “scenery”) is often used to describe the visual features of Japanese swords. Learning to appreciate this – in the details of the metal, the blade edge pattern, the inner structure and the surface patterns alike – makes them come to life with richness, depth, and clarity. And there’s no better way to do so than from a master swordsmith.

Actually picking up a sword and viewing it from different angles under different lighting reveal a variety of subtle patterns, lines, and structures in its steel. Miyairi calls this “the universe within the blade.” Gazing deeply into this microcosm can seem to stop time, revealing whole worlds: here like the surface of water, there like the face of a mountain, and elsewhere like the glittering abyss of the night sky. Through this, it becomes very easy to see how this craft developed into a spiritual art treasured and passed down through generations.

*Swords may also be purchased on-site. When in stock, shipping takes 1 to 2 months. Out-of-stock swords are shipped in approximately 3 to 4 months.

Engraving a Kogatana Knife with Your Personal Brand

The experience culminates in a look at the moment a finished blade is imbued with life. Watch as Miyairi engraves a knife called a kogatana (literally “small katana”) with a signature that marks the blade with the swordsmith’s presence and through each blow of the hammer and chisel endows it with history and identity. After a demonstration, you’ll have the chance to try your hand at the engraving techniques yourself. This engraved kogatana is a one-of-a-kind original by a master swordsmith, and you can take it home with you on the day.

This is more than a simple travel experience or a passing brush with culture. Get hands-on with an ancient craft, develop a new eye for aesthetic appreciation, discover traditions of spirituality and a tireless work ethic, and peer into the beauty of the universe rendered in miniature through these stunning blades. Through it all, enjoy the guidance of Norihiro Miyairi: a prodigy of the art who today stands as one of Japan’s greatest living swordsmiths.