【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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$7,064.73
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Category |
Katana (Gendaito)
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Age |
the 11th year of the Heisei era (1999) |
Swordsmith |
Bugei Jyu Kanekuni (武芸住兼国) |
Certificate |
– |
Location |
Gifu Prefecture |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 73.0 cm (28.7 inches)
Curvature: 1.8 cm (0.71 inches)
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$16,056.21
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INCLUDED : NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade and Koshirae, Koshirae Mounting, Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (Shinto) |
Age |
Meireki era (1655-1658: Early Edo Period) |
Swordsmith |
Kishu Jyu Monju Shigekuni (紀州住文殊重国: The second-gen) |
Certificate |
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade and Koshirae |
Location |
Kishu Province (Today’s Wakayama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 76.0 cm (29.9 inches)
Curvature: 2.2 cm (0.86 inches) |
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$14,129.46
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INCLUDED: NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (KOTO :古刀)
|
Age |
Late Muromachi Period |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Den Osafune Magouemon Nojyou Kiyomitsu (伝 長船孫右衛門尉清光: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Bizen province (Okayama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 73.2 cm (28.8 inches)
Curvature: 2.5 cm (0.98 inches)
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$10,275.97
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INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana( SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo Period (1641-1688) |
Swordsmith |
Hizen Koku Jyu Omi no Daijyo Fujiwara Tadahiro
(肥前国住近江大掾藤原忠広) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Hizen province (Today’s Saga prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 69.2 cm(27.2 inches)
Curvature: 2.2 cm(0.86 inches) |
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$4,174.61
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Category |
Katana (KOTO) |
Age |
Eisho era (1504-1521: Late Muromachi period) |
Swordsmith |
Tegai Kaneyoshi (手掻包吉: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade |
Location |
Yamashiro province( Kyoto prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 67.5 cm (26.6 inches)
Curvature: 1.5 cm (0.59 inches) |
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$7,064.73
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INCLUDED : NTHK Kanteisho Certificate, Koshirae Mounting , Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (Gendaito; 現代刀)
|
Age |
Estimated Early Showa era (Early 20th century) |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Nagao Hidemi (長尾秀美: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade |
Location |
Gifu Prefecture |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 66.7 cm( 26.2 inches)
Curvature : 1.2 cm (0.47 inches)
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$4,816.86
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Category |
Katana (KOTO :古刀)
|
Age |
Late Muromachi Period |
Swordsmith |
Kaneharu (兼春) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Mino province (Today’s Mino prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 70.6 cm ( 27.8 inches)
Curvature: 0.6 cm (0.23 inches)
|
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$28,901.18
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Category |
Katana ( SHIN SHIN TO) |
Age |
6th year of the Ansei era (1859) |
Swordsmith |
Minamoto Masao (源正雄) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Ezo province (Today’s Hokkaido prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 70.5 cm (27.7 inches)
Curvature: 2.0 cm (0.79 inches) |
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$4,495.74
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INCLUDED : NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade, Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (KOTO) |
Age |
Kansei era (1460-1466: Muromachi period) |
Swordsmith |
Oshu Hojyu (奥州宝寿: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade |
Location |
Mutsu province( Tohoku region) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 74.3 cm (29.2 inches)
Curvature: 2.1 cm (0.82 inches) |
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$8,991.48
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INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana ( KOTO) |
Age |
O-Ei Era (1394-1428: Early Muromachi period) |
Swordsmith |
attributed to Kashu Ietsugu (加州家次: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Kaga Province (Today’s Ishikawa prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 73.9 cm (29.1 inches)
Curvature: 1.81 cm (0.71 inches) |
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.