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(Music by MONO, courtesy of Temporary Residence Ltd.)
Korehira Watanabe is one of the last remaining Japanese swordsmiths. He has spent 40 years honing his craft in an attempt to recreate Koto, a type of sword that dates back to the Heian and Kamakura periods (794-1333 AD). No documents remain to provide context for Watanabe’s quest, but he believes he has come close to creating a replica of this mythical samurai sword.
Takeshi Fukunaga is a NY-based filmmaker, specializing in directing and editing. His works have been featured in diverse venues ranging from Anthology Film Archives and The National Arts Club to Tokyo Fashion Week.
3 Featured Comments
Sign in to add your ownpeonylovespink says: Featured
What a great artisan. I liked the part where he said he wanted his disciple to be even better than he is because it was about preserving/passing down a tradition. He is a true master of his art.
1 year ago
rmoralespottery says: Featured
When I was a boy I read a book about Japanese sword makers that really captivated my imagination and curiosity. This video is the closest thing I've seen to this great tradition and masterful creations. Mr. Watanabe is an incredible craftsman. His passion and soul are beautifully captured. Thank you.
1 year ago
ThePolkadotMagpie says: Featured
Fantastic. I am married to a knife maker. Although he rarely makes his own damascus steel, I have been to many a "hammering off" weekend where they are forging fancy steel. My husband always comes home with holes in his socks from the sparks that fly!
1 year ago
68 comments
Sign in to add your ownohbabydotcom says:
Wonderful video. True craftsman.
1 year ago
FOYI says:
Wow! I always loved swords, and now I appreciate it as well. Thank you!
1 year ago
SPUNKbyCM says:
We need more people like this swordsmith who try to preserve ancient crafts.
1 year ago
thebeadgirl says:
oh my. serious coolness. a true artisan. thank you for sharing!
1 year ago
PaperAffection says:
I'm in love with the quiet, devoted, passion this man has! Great portrait.
1 year ago
funktionslust says:
We should all aspire to be as authentic as he is
1 year ago
wwbc says:
A wonderful video. Truly one of Japan's living treasures.
1 year ago
MootiDesigns says:
Great video. Thank you for sharing!
1 year ago
ChezaIndigo13 says:
Too cool and awe inspiring for words. Thank you for posting this and thank you to Mr. Watanabe for existing and creating.
1 year ago
HerHandsMyHands says:
Thank you for sharing with us.
1 year ago
DelightBunnie says:
Amazing. I wish I could be a sword maker like him. (But I'm not Japanese).
1 year ago
renaissanceartisan says:
This is what being a master crafstman is all about. I've never seen or heard it expressed more perfectly. We can only hope someday to reach the same level as Korehira Watanabe in our own efforts.
1 year ago
Colettesboutique says:
What an amazing video! thanks for sharing.
1 year ago
AlisaDesign says:
WOW!
1 year ago
manicarteest says:
Great video, i agree with keeping traditions alive. Very aspiring.
1 year ago
just4theartofit says:
Great video! If it wasn't for people like Mr. Watanabe ancient crafts and history would be lost forever.
1 year ago
oldyellowhorsegifts says:
It is really great to see someone working to keep the culture and traditions alive in their art work. Without people preserving the old traditional ways, no matter what their ethnic back ground is, this type of craft work is at risk of becoming extinct, whether it be basket making with black ash and birch bark, saddle makers, leather work, traditional farming and seed saving, blacksmith, weavers, spinners, the list goes on... thank you for sharing your inspirational story ! Oh and the photographers who help share these wonderful treasures =)
1 year ago
theroyal says:
wow... i honestly do not know what other word would be more appropriate.. WOW!
1 year ago
theroyal says:
and MONO is the soundtrack!!!
1 year ago
Benally says:
Beautiful and engaging short. Makes me want to see more! Ive only recently started bladesmithing so this is very inspiring.
1 year ago
RedorGrayArt says:
beautifully produced video of a special craft person!
1 year ago
Modrn says:
Now that, is an artisan crafter! Truly inspiring.
1 year ago
SeanClayton says:
Very cool! Believe it or not I was just thinking about this a couple days ago. And how many people were still maintaining the craft. I surely wish him good fortune.
1 year ago
erinag says:
Beautiful
1 year ago
lovelygifts says:
Great story!
1 year ago
BeadSoupJewelry says:
Wow, amazing video! It is so important to pass down what we know to the next generation, and hope that they can take it to the next level. My dad is a welder by trade and he passed the trade down to my brother, now my brother is doing cutting edge stuff in his trade!
1 year ago
morij says:
It is truly amazing what you can do when you follow your heart. I believe no matter who is saying you can not do something, there are always people that have the same passion for whatever you love and will really enjoy what you create because no one else can create what you can.
1 year ago
Verdurebydesign says:
My children have enjoyed this look into such an historical art. Thank you.
1 year ago
davkadeergirl says:
very cool, thanks.
1 year ago
mwest0425 says:
I am very intrigued by this man and would like to visit his studio. Very nice film. MW
1 year ago
Judalon says:
when someone says that it takes a lifetime to perfect something and never quite get there, then you've met a true artist!
1 year ago
hanaleib says:
Thank you so very much for your film on the lost art & history of swordsmiths. It is absolutely fascinating to watch the art of sword-making! Mr. Korehira Watanabe is Truly an Amazing Man.
1 year ago
finethreadz says:
Love this! It's very intriguing to learn more about other cultures and craftsmanship! Thanks for sharing this.
1 year ago
PuchiMo says:
Great video , Great artist, Thank you !
1 year ago
ErtheFae says:
His swords are beautiful... Glad to see he is passing his art along to a disciple who can continue to preserve the tradition.
1 year ago
DanaCastle says:
So cool! I have to share this with my husband!
1 year ago
jokamin says:
Beautiful swords and the koto with japanese letters, wow!
1 year ago
NamasteWings says:
I absolutely loved this, it was very inspiring to see someone doing something they were passionate about, and doing it so well! We need more people to preserve old crafts and traditions for the future generations.
1 year ago
peonylovespink says: Featured
What a great artisan. I liked the part where he said he wanted his disciple to be even better than he is because it was about preserving/passing down a tradition. He is a true master of his art.
1 year ago
DeiDeisempai07 says:
thats amazing, to keep such an old yet genius practice alive after all of these years. i myself collect swords, wow 8O
1 year ago
AnnTig says:
Wow!
1 year ago
bhangtiez says:
So cool! Thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
Mclovebuddy says:
that's amazing.
1 year ago
KarKarStyle says:
how cool... and pictures are so beautiful..!!
1 year ago
quirkyshop says:
Interesting!
1 year ago
ThePattypanShop says:
Amazing!!!
1 year ago
kararane says:
Mr. Korehira Watanabe is as his swords.. persistent, sharp, beautiful, soulful. A true visionary who has lived his passion. An inspiration to all artists who must overcome tremendous obstacles just to create & perfect their craft. thank YOU Takeshi Fukunaga, great hand-made video portrait.
1 year ago
jamiespinello says:
Yay! Metal and Fire! Best swords in the world!
1 year ago
karisuma says:
Incredible. Such passion and patience is hard to come by these days.
1 year ago
ourfrontyard says:
Wonderful Video! A True Artisan!
1 year ago
rmoralespottery says: Featured
When I was a boy I read a book about Japanese sword makers that really captivated my imagination and curiosity. This video is the closest thing I've seen to this great tradition and masterful creations. Mr. Watanabe is an incredible craftsman. His passion and soul are beautifully captured. Thank you.
1 year ago
ThePolkadotMagpie says: Featured
Fantastic. I am married to a knife maker. Although he rarely makes his own damascus steel, I have been to many a "hammering off" weekend where they are forging fancy steel. My husband always comes home with holes in his socks from the sparks that fly!
1 year ago
Unify says:
That was such a beautiful video.
1 year ago
elleestpetite says:
This is so amazing. It would be a shame if the tradition of sword making died out. I would love to learn.
1 year ago
ivangovaerts says:
true art.
1 year ago
JesseDanger says:
Thank you for this, very inspiring!
1 year ago
AliceCloset says:
What a great job!!! I love swords nad japanese ones are the best :D Thank you for sharing!
1 year ago
RossLab says:
Very inspiring video!
1 year ago
sbellestri says:
This is so beautiful and so very important to carry on such an ancient tradition. I love this video.
1 year ago
AmandaKLockrowJewels says:
I recently found out that one of my ancestors was a Samurai sword maker and so I am so excited to see this video about passing on the tradition. I feel more connected to my ancestors knowing now why I was drawn to working with metal in college more than any other material.
1 year ago
CheapBastid says:
Sublte point from a neighbor who is a sword polisher: "The blurb on the site describing it has a subtle error. He said he's trying to reproduce "Koto" an ancient sword of the early periods. The problem is there is no such thing as a blade called Koto. He is trying to recreate the swords of the Koto sword period which was actually many hundreds of years long and had 5 main styles of smithing with literally 10's of thousands of smiths working. The time periods he lists (Kamakura, etc.) are some of the early time period "subsections" of the vastly longer Koto period. Basically all Koto means is the time of "old swords". As contrasted with Shinto or new (shin) to (swords), or closer to the end of the 18th and 19th centuries when we were in Shinshinto (new new swords). Today they call the period "Gendaito" or "modern swords". Any sword made before the unification of Japan under Tokugawa marks the Koto period. Once things settled down sword styles changed and skills were lost/altered."
1 year ago
bunnyontherocks says:
That was a wonderful video. Sword making is such a beautiful art, I wish I could buy one of swords!
1 year ago
happyowl says:
Amazing. Thank you for introducing me to this!
1 year ago
betheldt says:
Is it possible to get contact info? If this is his living, I want to have one made for me.
1 year ago
JulienDenoyer says:
Such an amazing video...just the sort of thing I could watch for hours! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
1 year ago
prwade says:
As to contact, I found this, which appears to have a mailing address (second guy on the list in the Hokkaido section): http://www.tousyoukai.jp/english/member_e.shtml From everything I have heard, buying a classical sword in Japan is a complex business (licenses, etc) so you will probably need help from someone who speaks Japanese and has done this before.
1 year ago
fukunaga says:
He just put up a simple website, and you can find his direct contact there. http://www.korehira.com/ Thank you everyone for viewing and leaving a comment. I'm so happy that I could share his story with so many people thorough the film.
1 year ago
Ryosuke Ueda from Shippodo says:
I agree with his idea of preserving Japanese beauty and aesthetics. Although for me it might be a long journey on understanding this concept. Yet every day, month, and year there is something to learn or experience. Plus removing the honshitsu or the core values or idea would indeed be meaningless to continue the tradition.
1 year ago