There are solely a few dozen craftsmen left in Japan who make ‘shinai,’ the bamboo swords utilized in kendo. Among them, Akihiko Kato, 69, from Sendai City, is Tohoku’s solely bamboo sword craftsman. Here’s his story.

Kato explains, ‘You break up one piece of bamboo into eight, and from that, you may make two shinai.’

He began making bamboo swords in earnest after retiring at 60. It was a remark from his grasp, veteran craftsman Shozo Nishino, that impressed him.

Kato remembers, ‘When I introduced bamboo from Miyagi for the primary time over a decade in the past, he mentioned, “I’ve never seen such good bamboo. It’s the best in Japan.” It can be a waste to not have even one craftsman the place this top-quality bamboo is discovered.’

Once, all shinai have been handcrafted by artisans. However, as a result of inflow of cheap, mass-produced foreign-made shinai, it’s mentioned that home ones now account for lower than 1% of the market.

All the supplies, similar to moso bamboo, are reduce by hand. Though bamboo is often harvested within the dry winter season, Kato gave us a particular demonstration of the method.

‘Bamboo turns into very robust after being uncovered to wind and snow,’ Kato explains. ‘The high quality, energy, flexibility, and the sound when struck – Miyagi’s bamboo is one of the best in Japan. Nothing else compares.’

Kato’s shinai are absolutely custom-made, tailor-made to the consumer’s preferences all the way down to the millimeter. After roughly shaving the bamboo, he strikes on to the method referred to as ‘tame,’ the place the bamboo is heated and bent straight.

‘It’s bent like this, however it turns into straight,’ Kato reveals.

He continues to shave it down via a number of levels.

‘When I see the delighted faces of consumers receiving their completed shinai, I actually really feel it was value it,’ Kato displays.

Orders now come from everywhere in the nation, however Kato has a priority.

‘There can be nobody left in Miyagi to make shinai, so I hope somebody will develop into my successor,’ Kato says.

Kato himself is a talented kendo practitioner with a seventh-dan rank. His mates additionally use his shinai.

An eighth-dan practitioner remarks, ‘I now use solely his shinai.’

‘From once I was a novice, they paid to make use of my shinai,’ Kato says. ‘I’m really grateful to my mates for elevating me.’

Pursuing the right shinai, Kato continues his craftsmanship with dedication.

Source: TBS