【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.
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Authentic Japanese Sword
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$13,837.85

DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
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INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo Period (Late 17th century) |
Swordsmith |
Awataguchi Omi no Kami Tadatsuna (粟田口近江守忠綱) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
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Location |
Settsu province (Today’s Osaka prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 68.2 cm ( 26.8 inches)
Curvature: 0.8 cm ( 0.31 inches)
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$11,147.16

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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 |
1682: Early Edo Period |
Swordsmith |
Kunihira (國平) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Settsu province (Today’s Osaka) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 68.7 cm ( 27.0 inches)
Curvature: 1.9 cm( 0.74 inches) |
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$11,531.54

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Category |
Katana( KOTO) |
Age |
early Muromachi period (1394-1429) |
Swordsmith |
Suketsugu (助次) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
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Location |
Yamato province (Today’s Nara prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 70.9 cm (27.9 inches)
Curvature: 2.8 cm ( 1.10 inches)
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$16,912.93

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Category |
Katana( SHIN SHIN TO) |
Age |
1860: The end of the Edo period |
Swordsmith |
Morioka Jyu Yamauchi Fujiwara Kunikazu
(盛岡住山内藤原國多) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
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Location |
Morioka province (Today’s Iwate prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 70.0 cm ( 27.5 inches)
Curvature: 1.51 cm ( 0.59 inches)
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$9,225.23

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Category |
Katana( SHINTO) |
Age |
1624-1645: Early Edo period |
Swordsmith |
Echizen Jyu Hyuga no Kami Fujiwara Sadatsugu
(越前住日向守藤原貞次) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
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Location |
Echizen province (Today’s Fukui prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 71.3 cm (28.0 inches)
Curvature: 1.5 cm ( 0.59 inches)
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$8,456.46

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Category |
Katana( SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo Period (Early-Mid 17th century) |
Swordsmith |
Yoshu Fujiwara Kunimasa (予州藤原国正) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
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Location |
Iyo province (Today’s Ehime prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 69.7 cm ( 27.4 inches)
Curvature: 0.9 cm ( 0.35 inches)
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$4,612.62

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Category |
Wakizashi (SHIN SHIN TO)
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Age |
Ka-Ei era (1848-1854) |
Swordsmith |
Ise Daijo Kaneshige (木下伊勢大掾兼重) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Kashu province (Today’s Ishikawa prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length : 32.4 cm ( 12.7 inches)
Curvature: 0.6 cm (0.23 inches)
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$4,458.86

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Category |
Wakizashi ( SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo Period (Early-Mid 17th century) |
Swordsmith |
Kashu Jyu Fujiwara Kagehira (賀州住藤原景平) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Kaga province(today’s Ishikawa prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length : 32.4 cm (12.7 inches)
Curvature : 0.1 cm(0.03 inches)
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$10,378.39

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Category |
Wakizashi (KOTO)
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Age |
Mid-Late Nanbokucho period (Mid-Late 14th century) |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Omiya (大宮: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Bizen province (Today’s Okayama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length : 56.6 cm ( 22.2 inches)
Curvature: 1.4 cm ( 0.55 inches)
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$4,228.23

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Category |
Tanto (SHIN SHIN TO)
|
Age |
Late Edo Period (Mid-Late 19th century) |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Mito Masakatsu (水戸正勝:Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Mito domain (Today’s Ibaraki prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length : 19.6 cm( 7.74 inches)
Curvature: 0 cm (0 inches) |
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