Photo by Kei Nakamura
The traditional Japanese katana sword is mostly known as a weapon, its imposing single-edged tapered curved blade an iconic image in and of itself, never mind its wielder. Needless to say the dandyism that the wearing of a katana imbues said wielder with has become a cultural commodity in its own right, and in recent years attention has been drawn to the sword itself, the many parts that make it up, the centuries of craft in their creation, and in particular the beauty of the blade itself. In this exhibition Nihombashi Mitsukoshi revisits the beauty of the Japanese sword as kogei and looks to place it in its wider context, for, even as the katana is enjoying a huge resurgence in popularity, practically actual sword ownership is an increasingly rare privilege to be entered into judiciously.
The exhibition begins with remarkable blades crafted by the likes of Kunihara Kawachi, renowned swordsmith and second son of 14th generation master Kunisuke Kawachinokami. Usually entrusted with the task of restoring important historical swords to their original glory, his output of recent years has turned to the creation of the blade itself, avoiding the distraction of the hilt and scabbard and focusing the viewer to engage directly with the beauty of the blade directly. The varieties of Japanese steel and methods of folding, forging and polishing of the blade yields almost endless possibilities for execution, and the blade pattern hamon that emerges down the side of the blade during polishing is truly unique to each creator; an unparalleled intimacy to see hundreds upon hundreds of hours of craft laid bare before your eyes.
rinkak SUMISAYA
Engaging with the possibilities for this craft in other disciplines, we find other artisans including Japanese lacquer artists engaging with the techniques learned from swordsmithing in works as diverse as sake flasks and cups. Adding the cutting edge of technology to the mix we find collaborations with leading 3D printing pioneers rinkak that combine the latest technological possibilities of 3D printing with time-honoured steel craft. Of particular note is a transparent scabbard and hilt produced by Sumisaya using 3D printing that allows you to display, pick up and examine the blade within without unsheathing it to truly appreciate the silent beauty of the blade in a manner previously impossible.
rinkak sake cup, sake bottle, small bowls
Date
March 16th to March 22nd
Location
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store 1F, Central Hall