【Episode 5】What is TAMA-HAGANE?
Japanese blacksmithing has over a millennium of history. It dates back to the 1st century A.D. when ancient blacksmiths studied template method from the continent. Copper pottery and rice farming techniques were also introduced to Japan at the same time.
Since then, Japanese blacksmiths had spent centuries to invent the traditional metal forging technique called TATARA(鑪). TATARA is a clay melting pot where you put iron sand and charcoal together to bond these chemicals with intensive heat.
By using this technique, they started to make Japanese swords out of Tatara carbon-steel.
This type of carbon-steel was later called TAMA-HAGANE (玉鋼; Ball-Steel). However, Tama-Hagane, in the early days, still had room for improvement. The schools of Katana (Japanese swords) continued carrying out various ways to make the best steel.
In the Edo period (1603-1868 A.D.), they finally achieved the most steady mass-producing supply of Tama-Hagane. As transport links in the Edo period were far more advanced than those of any previous eras, Tama-Hagane has rapidly spread throughout the country. It was widely used for Shin-TO Japanese swords, since it was deemed the purest form of carbon-steel with the most stable chemical bond. It was also a defining moment in Japanese history when most swordsmiths in Japan used virtually the same ingredient in their blacksmithing.
After the decline of the Samurai regime in the Meiji era (1868-1912 A.D.), Tatara and Tama-Hagane also vanished from Japan. Although it had once restored its use in the World War period, there was eventually no operating Tatara factory in Japan.
The Tatara method had been extinct until the 1970s. However, there was still no better metal material than Tama-Hagane in terms of its pureness and strength. Even the finest of modern technology could not create the alternative to Tama-Hagane.
In the year 1972, following all the struggles by the government and metal industry to bring Tatara back to life, it was NBTHK that presented themselves in charge.
They finally restored the traditional Tatara factory in the year 1977. Also, Tatara was selected as one of the traditional Japanese techniques that are legally worth preserving by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in Japan.
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That is the history of TAMA-HAGANE. Did you enjoy this article? It seems to us that it is such an honor to have the kind of steel which has a deep-rooted history behind it in our culture. It would also be an honor if this article helped you understand Katana’s true art and history.
And if you don’t own a Japanese sword yet, we are happy to serve you at our online shop. You are welcome to ask us anything! We will see you in the next episode.
Samurai Museum
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Authentic Japanese Sword
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$25,485.40
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INCLUDED : NBTHK JUYO TOKEN Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Wakizashi (SHINTO) |
Age |
20th year of the Keicho era (1615: Early Edo Period) |
Swordsmith |
Etchu no Kami Fujiwara Masatoshi (越中守藤原正俊) |
Certificate |
NBTHK JUYO TOKEN Certificate |
Location |
Yamashiro Province (Today’s Kyoto prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 57.1 cm (22.5 inches)
Curvature: 1.3 cm (0.51 inches) |
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$12,407.36
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INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Mounting, Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo Period ( 1661-1673) |
Swordsmith |
Fujiwara Sadakuni (藤原貞国) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Settsu Province (Today’s Okayama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 74.3 cm (29.2 inches)
Curvature: 2.4 cm (0.94 inches) |
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$10,060.03
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Category |
Katana (SHIN SHIN TO :新々刀)
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Age |
The late Edo period (1830-1860) |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Koyama Munetsugu (固山宗次: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Musashi province (Today’s Tokyo prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 60.6 cm ( 23.8 inches)
Curvature: 1.7 cm (0.67 inches)
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$4,560.54
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Category |
Katana (KOTO :古刀)
|
Age |
Estimated Mid-Late Muromachi period(Late 15th century-early 16th century) |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Mino Senjuin (美濃千手院: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Mino province (Today’s Gifu prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 72.4 cm ( 28.5 inches)
Curvature: 2.1 cm (0.82 inches)
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$21,461.39
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Category |
Wakizashi (SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo Period (1596-1624) |
Swordsmith |
Heianjo Fujiwara Hiroyuki (平安城藤原弘幸) |
Certificate |
NBTHK JUYO TOKEN Certificate |
Location |
Yamashiro Province (Today’s Kyoto prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 32.1 cm (12.6 inches)
Curvature: 0.30 cm (0.12 inches) |
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$10,730.69
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Category |
Katana (KOTO) |
Age |
12th year of the Eiroku era (1569) |
Swordsmith |
Bizen Koku Jyu Osafune Sinjyuro Sukesada (備前国住長船新十郎祐定) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Bizen province (Today’s Okayama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 71.6 cm (28.2 inches)
Curvature: 2.0 cm (0.79 inches) |
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$3,688.68
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Category |
Tanto (SHIN SHIN TO) |
Age |
Late Edo Period (1804-1818) |
Swordsmith |
attributed to Satsushu Nirei Masazane (薩州仁礼正真: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Satsuma province (Today’s Kagoshima prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 29.4 cm (11.6 inches)
Curvature: 0.2 cm (0.08 inches) |
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$4,024.01
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Category |
Tanto (KOTO) |
Age |
Late Muromachi period |
Swordsmith |
Sukemune (助宗) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Suruga province (Today’s Shizuoka prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 22.0 cm (8.66 inches)
Curvature: 0 cm (0 inches) |
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$5,365.35
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Category |
Tanto ( KOTO) |
Age |
The second year of the Genki era (1571) |
Swordsmith |
Hoki Koku Jyu Hiroyoshi (伯耆国住広賀) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Hoki province (Today’s Tottori prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 26.6 cm (10.5 inches)
Curvature : 0.2 cm (0.08 inches) |
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
-
$5,365.35
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO :
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate , Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Wakizashi (SHINTO)
|
Age |
Early Edo Period |
Swordsmith |
Bushu Shitahara Jyu Hiroshige (武州下原住広重) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Musashi province (Today’s Tokyo prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 53.8 cm ( 21.2 inches)
Curvature: 0.10 cm (0.04 inches)
|
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.