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Tap HERE for info! Happy Thursday! Kaburaya: the whistling arrow 鏑矢 (かぶらや)の話 This is a kaburaya 鏑矢. I'm still researching these wonderful arrows but I wanted you to hear the sound they make! マイ鏑矢です。音がとても好きです。鏑矢の事調べ中ですが、音を皆さんに聞かせたくて😊✨️ Carved from wood the arrow tip of this arrow is hollowed out and openings have been placed at specific points in the top. This means when shot into the air the arrow becomes a sort of wind instrument and I think it sounds amazing! こちらの矢は職人にお願いして、木造と竹でできてます。矢じりが空洞になってて、飛ばすと管楽器なようになります。 In the year 940 a kaburaya was shot from a Temple to the surprise of many. After this kaburaya became associated with misfortune befalling enemy soldiers and began to be used in ceremonies done before battle.*1 調べによりますと940年にあるお寺から鏑矢が飛ばした。見た方が驚いたようで、その時以降鏑矢は敵の兵士に降りかかる不幸と結びつき、戦闘前に行われた儀式で使用されるようになりました。 They were fletched on purpose with cursed feathers never used in archery, in order to insult, intimidate, and cast bad fortune on the enemy. *2 敵を侮辱し、威嚇し、不幸を投げかけるために呪いにかかったような羽が使用されていました。 Kaburaya were used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Before battle an army archer was said to have shot 5 kaburaya in succession to signal the start of a battle. 鏑矢は封建時代のの武士が使用したようです。戦闘の時、射手が戦闘開始合図するために、特定な鏑矢5本の鏑矢を引きましたという話ありました。 In saying this though, other kyūjutsu or koryu archery schools perform a Shinto ceremony involving the kaburaya and ritual purification. The arrow is then called hikime蟇目. Its seems that the tip is sometimes made from deer horn. The whistling sound when flying through the air is believed to scatter evil spirits and purify the area. 蟇目（ひきめ）の神事、鏑矢が空中で音を発して飛び悪霊を退散させる。神社で行われる行事です。蟇目の飛ばす音が邪を払い、場を清めるとされ、飾り矢として親しまれています。 In modern Japan, cursed arrows used for battle are very rare. More often than not if you pass by a temple and you are very lucky, you will see the hikime ritual shooting instead. *1. 2. Tools of the Archer @shinobu_books 🔹Kaburaya Wood and bamboo Arrow 76 grams Arrow head 37 grams Yumi 12.5k nami sun, Higosouzan Kyuzen carbon yumi #fieldarchery #archery #fieldyumi #kyudo #kyujutsu #experiment #forrest #Japan #Archer #longbow #yumi #フィールドアーチェリー #アーチェリー #弓道 #自然 #森 #弓術 #アウトドア #🎄 #calm #鏑矢 #metime #samurai #battle #arrows

Happy Saturday! 🔹How do I start kyudo? 🔹弓道始めたいけど、どうしたらいい？ I get asked this very often. Very good question. Firstly it depends where you live. If you live out of Japan the fastest way is to search 「kyudo + your country」 嬉しい質問です！毎日始めたい方から連絡がきます。答えがまず、住まいによります。海外に住んでる方がネット検索で　弓道+自分の国 The International Kyudo Federation has a listing of all dojos around the world.  www.ikyf.org Sometimes there are Heki ryu dojos and Honda Ryu dojos too both koyru and they have their own websites. 国際弓道連盟のHPの方で世界の道場情報あります。ところで流派、古流も海外にあります。日置流、本多流、小笠原流も国際的です。流派の場合も　弓道+自分に住んでる国　を検索すればヒットするはずです。 You contact them and find out where there are, when there practice is etc.  情報見つけたら、どこにある、お稽古はいつある等の情報判明できます☺️ If you are in Japan, you will need to use Japanese to gather the information for your local dojo. Japan has 1,209 dojos all over the country. Usually the beginners class is held once a year. If you are lucky, twice a year. There different dates for the course, application deadlines, numbers of people accepted, depending on the area. Everywhere is different.　 社会人で日本に住んでる場合、日本語でネット検索して、「市、区+弓道 初心者教室」で検索すれば大体連盟の情報が出てきます。 ところで日本全国に1,209ヶ所の道場あります。初心者教室は年に一度ラッキーなら二度しかない道場が多い。受け付けてる人数が制限されて、一発で入らない方もいます Search out your dojo, and go and visit. If you are worried about you Japanese language ability bring a Japanese speaker. Remember to bring socks too, being barefoot at most dojos is not allowed. 道場の場所見つけたら、見学の約束をして見に行きましょう！ Also if you are in high-school or university either enrolled or as an exchange student you can participate in kyudo club activities or bukatsu at your school. Visit the dojo if you have one and ask about joining. 中、高、大学生なら、学校は弓道部あるならそっちで入った方が良い。弓道部がない場合は一般道場の初心者教室でも入れるけど年齢のルールあります(14歳以上とか)。 It doesn't matter where you live, message me if you are stuck. If you are interested, go for it! I will do my best to help you on you. 住まいに関係なく、弓道始めたいけど情報が見つからないならDMして大丈夫👌手伝いますね😃 #fieldarchery #archery #fieldyumi #kyudo #kyujutsu #experiment #forrest #Japan #Archer #longbow #yumi #フィールドアーチェリー #アーチェリー #弓道 #自然 #森 #弓術 #アウトドア #🎄 #calm #fitness #metime #walking #instinctivearchery #New #弓 #着物 #kimono

Happy Monday everyone! Swipe for photos👉️ Riding in armor on Kiso Uma. And: What's up with my sword? 馬上で鎧、刀の刃の向けって？ I will be having another practice in armor on horseback this month and it reminds me I have gotten alot of comments about the blade on my sword being facing the wrong way. 5月に突入😊✨️今月は馬上鎧の稽古イベント行きます。海外の方から刀の刃の向けについて色んなコメント頂いてます(笑)太刀と刀の違いも知らない方が多いので、それについて投稿します。 I will do a post on this and on the difference between a tachi and katana soon, but in short, when you are in armor on horseback, this is correct.  For those who don't know, I've been learning washiki bajutsu (Japanese traditional equestrianism) for about a year and a half. The equipment, horses and techniques are all very different and amazingly interesting💡 夏で2年目になる、和式馬術、スポーツ流鏑馬、馬上武芸学んでます。和種馬、和式馬具、和式の馬術がとっても好きです。 🔹木曽馬は丈夫で働きもので、温和で従順な性格を持つ。 We ride on Japanese indigenous horses called Kiso uma. The traditional horse tack is really made for their bodies. Kiso are well known for their hard working no nonsense attitude, their good memory and even temperament. And they snuggly and so sweet too💙 🔹鎧甲冑というと鉄でできておりますがそこまで重たくないです(20㌔前後) 着ないで乗る、着てる状態で乗る、さらに弓を引くとなるとやはり大きいな違い色々ありました。 My armor isn't too heavy (about 20 plus kilos) but riding and using a yumi in armor on horseback was very different and interesting as you'd expect About the Kiso Uma 🔹本州の在来種は木曽馬のみである。短足胴長であり、体幅が広いところが特徴的。平安時代から江戸時代にかけて、武士の馬として使用された。 Kiso uma is one of the eight indigenous horse breeds of Japan. It is the only native horse breed from Honshu. Like most other Japanese native breeds, it is critically endangered. 🔹一時絶滅寸前であったが木曽馬保存会が中心に活動が行なわれた結果、飼育数は増加した。しかし以前のような乗用、農耕を目的とした需要はなく、現在は200頭以下だそう。 The breed originates from the Kiso Valley and Kiso Sanmyaku mountain range in Nagano, and Higashimino region, Gifu, Honshu. During the Meiji era the breed was severely affected by  breeding programmes of the Imperial Army, which wanted taller horses and ordered that Kiso stallions be gelded. #samurai #armor #鎧 #onnamusha #甲冑 #兜 #kabuto #nihonto #⚔️ #🏯 #🏹 #🇯🇵 #horseriding #horselover #Japan #antique #samuraisword #katana #tachi #outdoorslife #outdoors #japan #budotourism #budojapan #月刊秘伝 #archery Photos @hirokyudoworld

Happy Wednesday! Youkyu x kimono x sakura 楊弓 x 着物 x 桜 🔹Swipe for video More about my bow and arrow below⏬ I got an amazing opportunity to shoot with a wonderful photographer. That was my chance to recreate ukiyo-e (Japanese art) with my antique Edo period youkyu(the small bow). I wore an Edo komon kimono with shin nihongami hair.  先日素敵な撮影ありました。天才カメラマンがとってくださいました。黒繻子衿/ 黒掛け衿の江戸小紋着物と、新日本髪と楊弓と桜🌸 最高なコラボでした。ずっと再現してみたかった浮世絵をやってみた。 Photographer @kumiko_yamada_photography Kimono 着物着付け•スタイリング @kimonoexperiencechiba Hair/Make up @hairchiba.r About the youkyu 楊弓の話(ようきゅう) 室内遊戯用の小型弓矢です。Youkyu are a small (85cm) indoor asymmetric bow made for leisure. The yokyu is an asymmetric yumi, assembly type bow. The body has 4 parts, the lower limb, hand grip and 2 upper limbs. Arrows are about 27cm long. As you can see the bow is very thin which made stringing the bow very nerve wracking! They are made of wood (Yang Willow) hence its name.  組立式で、弓の長さは2尺8寸（約85cm）矢の長さは7寸から9寸2分(27cm) とされる。ご覧の通り弓自体がとっても細くて、弦張る時は少しドキドキです。 Indoors, the target is set 6.3m away and the aim is to hit the tiny target! It is tricky! Using a pinch draw the person who hits the target most, wins! 的までの距離は6.3。楊弓の主な遊び方は、室内に小型の的を設置し離れた場所から座ったままピンチ式射て、当たりの数を競うというもの。 It is said the indoor game started in China then carried over to Japan too. In the Heian period it was popular with women. In the Muromachi Period this activity was called Youkyu yugi and was enjoyed by very high status and wealthy people, however in the Edo Period it became popular with everyone. 中国の唐代で始まったとされ、後に日本にも伝わり、 平安貴族社会で娯楽として行われ,常盤御前なども楊弓に没頭したと言われてます。婦人の楽しみとして室内娯楽の１つでした。室町時代に上流階級の間で使用され、江戸時代には庶民にも広まりました。「楊弓遊戯」として遊ばれた。 #楊弓 #archery #kyudo #kyujutsu #sakura #forest #Japan #Archer #kimono #yumi #アーチェリー #弓道 #自然 #森 #弓術 #アウトドア #calm #metime #model #モデル #着物 #hairstyle #桜 #浮世絵 #ukiyoe #antique #raw_people #骨董品 #江戸時代 #raw_tokyo

Happy Monday! Swipe for full photo⏩️ 🔹弓道日本 62号 執筆報告:  🔹My article was published in Kyudo Nippon magazine. 今回弓道写真家 奥野浩次さん @kyudophotograph インタビューしました！表紙も奥野さんの作品。 This time I interviewed the highly talented photographer Koji Okuno @kyudophotograph who specialises in taking kyudo related photos. His photo is also the cover for the spring edition of the magazine. Photo 1 & 2 are Okuno sans work. 1と2枚目の写真が奥野さんの作品です Okuno san is not only a photographer, but also a dedicated kyudo practitioner which makes his artistic vision quite unique. 今回弓道カメラマン 奥野浩次さんインタビューしました。弓道の写真が得意な奥野さんですが実は長年の経験を持つ熱心な弓引きです。 The magazine is in Japanese only but Okuno san welcomes people to his social media (links in IG story) and website kojiokuno.com 雑誌の購入リンクはストーリーよりアクセスができます🍀 #弓道 #kyudo #archery #longbow #archeryrange #dojo #uniform #portait #sports photography #photography #japan #budo #Japanesearchery #奥野浩次 #写真好きな人と繋がりたい #canon #canonphotography #canon📷 #canoneos #ポートレート #sport #スポーツ #model #モデル #弓道日本 #ライター #執筆 #writer

Happy Thursday 🏹Took the yumi to the field archery range 🏹フィールドアーチェリー×和弓 青空弓の研究その① 🔊SOUND ON🔊 The first time I tried field archery a couple of months back I loved it. The barebow was awesome and being outside moving around was really fun. The owner of the range said it would be ok to bring my yumi the next time I came. So I did. 数ヵ月前フィールドアーチェリー初めてやってみた。ベアボーのリカーブと外で森の中動きながらがとんでもなく気持ち良かった。アーチェリークラブの会長が今度弓持ってきてもOKと言ってくれたので、先日初フィールド弓やってみました。 Last weekend I did both recurve and yumi interchangeably for several hours. I figured out the aim and my draw on the barebow at 15 and 20m then tried the yumi. 数ヵ月ぶりのため、やや近的10m,20m,でリカーブも弓も引いたりして狙いを思い出しつつ時間過ごせた。 This video is just one shot on the field archery course that I did with my yumi. It was awesome and I love it and I think shooting at targets up, down, left and right, kneeling, crouching, in many body positions will actually help me back in the dojo (where I still do not aim properly) この動画がコースに出たところの一射だけですが、新鮮すぎて、楽しすぎて、解放感溢れる、とても幸せな時間でした。上、下、右、左、しゃがんで、膝立ち、割膝、色んな体勢と色んな角度に狙うことは本来道場にいる時、良い影響になると思います。 I couldn't wait to post this video I was so excited all the way home. I will go into more depth in future posts but welcome to the new genre called 「field yumi.」 とりあえず新しいジャンルの弓:フィールド弓 です😊 弦巻は @shokuninkitsuya 作品 #fieldarchery #archery #fieldyumi #kyudo #kyujutsu #experiment #forrest #Japan #Archer #longbow #yumi #フィールドアーチェリー #アーチェリー #弓道 #自然 #森 #弓術 #アウトドア #🎄 #calm #fitness #metime #walking #instinctivearchery #New #フィールド弓 #着物 #kimono

Happy Monday! 出演情報 Japanese TV appearance & English Podcast information 🔹テレビ出演 明後日 水曜日 19時55分 ワタシが日本に住む理由  📌BSテレビ東京 全国放送 On BS TV Tokyo Wednesday at 1955 on a show called The reason I live in Japan  (再放送です) 埼玉ラブ、弓道、育児、仕事 私生活密着ドキュメンタリー是非是非ご覧ください💜 司会 #高橋克典 アシスタント #池谷実悠 🔹English Podcast Information ポッドキャスト出演情報 @blackroninsofjapan Podcast episode #28 🔹Link in my story Deep dive into several different aspects of living in Japan and of course talking about budo. 日本の生活、武道の話、色々な話ができました！ 👘My kimono is made from a fabric called Kawagoe Touzan specific to the Kawagoe, Saitama area. 「番組動画、写真は使用許可済み」 📌Special Thanks @saitama150th @saitama_wabisabi @saitamakanko @gofukukanda @kimonoexperiencechiba @yukiyakonko12 @katsunoritakahashiofficial @rm.tkrzk.miyu0918 @fulltime_tv @azs_azusasekkei @kimi_itsu #ワタシが日本に住む理由 #BSテレ東 #BSテレビ #テレビ東京 #弓道 #埼玉 #kyudo #kimono #saitama #川越唐桟 #さいたま市 #埼玉スタジアム #bsテレビ東京

Happy Friday✨️ ⚔️Jumonji yari 十文字槍 or cross shaped spear ⚔️十文字槍の話 The other day at sports yabusame practice sensei let me look at the different spears he has. At the horse ranch I practice at they are used for martial arts on horseback or bajobugei. It reminded me that I had photos with a yari from a while back. 先日スポーツ流鏑馬の稽古で先生が槍の色々見せてくれました。紅葉台の馬場では槍は馬上で使用する、馬上武芸の道具です。槍見て思いだし、以前渋谷でとってた写真ありました✨ The yari 槍 is a spear with a blade that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Early yari are said to have Chinese origin. Pole arms like the yari and naginata were of more military use than swords as they had longer reach. In the Muromachi period (15th Century) large-scale group battles were mostly fought using yari, yumi, and hinawaju (matchlocks). From Heian to Muromachi during battle, swords were relegated to emergency sidearm status. This armour is a replica of a 400 year old kacchu called  ｢Noukonito Odoshi Shuokegawa Nimai Doukusoku Maedate yotsumata dakitsuno｣  📷甲冑が 濃紺糸威朱桶側二枚胴具足 前立 四ツ又抱角 (のうこんいとおどししゅおけがわにまいどうぐそく まえたて よつまただきつの） This name describes the armour type or kacchu and the kabuto (helmet) type and adornings (horns, and maedate). My sword is a jintachi. This kacchu wasn't as heavy as Oyoroi but it weighed in at about 23 kilos. ⚔️400年前の甲冑のレプリカになります✨ 身につけて頂いた武具は陣太刀（じんたち) ⚠️甲冑の重さは約23キロ The company that makes this armour is called Marutake. Based in Kagoshima they have been given the title of special cultural heritage for their work. 甲冑作ってる会社が「丸武」といいます @marutake_industries 大河ドラマで見かける甲冑はこの会社が製作してます。 @samurai.armor.p.s さん、どうもありがとうございました! また行きます✨ #甲冑 #鎧 #armor #armour #丸武 #armorgirl #tomboy  #samurai #samuraiarmor #jessinarmor #samuraisword #sword #katana #tachi #yari #naginata #槍

Happy Monday! Everyones different (junin toiro) 十人十色の話し In Japan there is a saying: junin (10 people10人) toiro (10 colours十色) or everyones different.  十人十色 私たちの人生でもそう 弓道の場合もそう So how does this translate to budo and specifically kyudo where the kata or hassetsu are set and you are expected to keep time with others in taihai (ceremonial shooting)? 人それぞれで目指してる所が違いますが共通点が弓。 I figure the common denominator is kyudo or the yumi. But the practitioners motivations for pursuring kyudo and their goals, differ from person to person. 審査向かってひたすら稽古頑張ってる方 たまにしか引かない忙しい社会人の方 This shows in their shooting, their approach to keiko, the pace at which they learn. Everyones different. You may have someone who works fulltime, isn't really interested in grading or shinsa and has difficulty finding time to practise. There are others who even though they aren't blessed with a natural ability for kyudo, practice as often as they can in the hopes of improvement. 人のペース、引き方、弓具、体型、骨格、考え方 違って良い それも弓の面白さであって みんな違ってみんないい Things like lifestyle, our body make up and shape, the type of kyudo we practice, our age, our values and priorities. Our differences are one reason why kyudo is interesting. Everyones different but thats ok👌 Photos by @hirokyudoworld From a studio photoshoot last week. Last 2 photos, someone cracked a joke as we were talking photos. I think this is the only photo of me smiling so big in fulldraw😅 #kyudo #archery #mindfull #mindfullness #different #metime #peace #kimono #弓道 #着物 #十人十色 #calm #monday #motivation #弓術 #kimonostyle #👘 #longbow #humanismo #peaceful #多様性 #包括性

Happy Friday everyone!! Talking about Heki ryu Date Insai Ha (Koryu Kyujutsu) 弓術日置流伊達印西派の話 Swipe for video👉️ Last year in spring I had the opportunity to be taught Heki ryu Date Insai ha at Kurosu sensei's own dojo in Tohoku. I was there helping for his interview with martial arts magazine: Gekkan Hiden @hidenbudo @budojapan 去年春に東北にて黒須先生の道場お邪魔しました。月刊秘伝の取材と日置流印西派の勉強させて頂きました✨ Btw yesterday was his birthday.. Please wish him happy birthday if you have time @ken.kurosu Kurosu sensei is a Professor at Tohoku Gakuin University and the leader of the Date Insai ha Kyujutsu Research Group. He has been involved with kyujutsu and kyudo for over 50 years✨ 黒須先生は東北学院大学の教授であり、伊達印西派弓術研究会のリーダーであって、50年以上弓引いてます✨ 黒須先生の指導頂いて光栄でした✨手の内技術｢紅葉重ね｣や｢斜面打ち起し｣教えていただきました✨そっから少しずつ練習してます✨ It was an honour to be taught by him in this amazing school of archery. Learning the special tenouchi technique of ｢momiji gasane｣ and shooting technique of ｢shamen uchiokoshi｣ from him was very insightful. Since I visited him I have been continuing to practice Heki ryu Insai ha🏹 This type of archery is quite different to the one you see on my feed. In standard kyudo we lift the bow in front of us (shomen uchi okoshi) in Heki Ryu schools of archery they ready the bow to the left and lift up to the left. This form of uchi okoshi is called shamen uchiokoshi.  This makes it alot easier to shoot in armour. The bow string doesnt get caught on armour itself. Heki ryu was founded in the Muromachi Period,  during the Edo period a faction called Insai ha was born.  The Date clan based in Sendai practiced this particular school of archery. This style emphasizes practicality on the battlefield over ceremonial grace. The shooting method incorporates mobility, solo or group tactics, and powerful shots to penetrate armor, basically archery for battle. There are several types of shooting styles. Crouching, kneeling, moving, in armor etc all are very interesting. #日置流 #hekiryu #Kyujutsu #battle #kyudo #弓道 #instinctivearchery #longbow #archery #samurai #武士 #仙台 #紅葉重ね #斜面 #japan #battle #edoperiod #muromachi #ageofsamurai #koryu #archeryrange #oldstyle #tradition #Japan Photos 📸 @hirokyudoworld

Happy Wednesday 出演情報 TV appearance information & talking about work in Japanese media 🔹Tonight 7pm on TBS 今夜19時「TBS 世界くらべてみたら」 3時間スペシャル! 「後半から出演」お見逃しなく😃 @sekakura_tbs 番組の内容この下にあります👇️ The show I'm on tonight is called Sekai Kurabete Mitara. The show looks at interesting information from different countries around the world. I introduce information about NZ🇳🇿 I've been working in Japanese media (TV, radio, magazines etc) for over 16 years. I've had so many amazing experiences and opportunities.  I often receive questions about how I started out.  After registering at the talent agency (that I am still with today),  I auditioned and was I given a break on a popular, live weekly TV show with the super famous singer,actor and talent Shingo Katori (who at the time was in the band SMAP). Everything else just sort of went from there. At the time I was working full time as an OL (internal HR to be precise) in Ginza for a recruitment company and then worked TV jobs in my weekends. People often ask me how they can work in tv or other media over here.   🔹You need to be living in Japan and have a valid visa (tourists cannot legally work.)  🔹Having good spoken Japanese language skills is very helpful, however jobs like modelling however may require less Japanese. 🔹After you register at a talent agency they will send you offers for work that is a good fit and you take it from there. さって💕 🌍️今夜のせかくら 世界で「コレどこから来てる？」を大調査！テレビ初公開！ヤンヤンつけボーの工場に初潜入も！ 🍕世界のドミノ・ピザをくらべてみる 🌍️世界各国1万8000店舗以上を展開し、それぞれのご当地メニューも！ 世界で今、日本人に教えたいこと」をくらべてみたら？ 🇹🇼台湾で有名な日本人まで、情報満載でお送りします！ 🇨🇳北京オリンピックで初めて聞いた国に行ってみた！ 是非ご覧ください🍀 🎤MC #国分太一 #上白石萌歌 🍒スペシャルゲスト ・桐谷健太 🍒ゲスト ・出川哲朗 ・千原ジュニア ・ケンドーコバヤシ ・山崎弘也 ・島袋寛子 #ジェシー (#SixTones) ・オズワルド ・ヒコロヒー #世界くらべてみたら #TBS #タレント#Japan #🇯🇵 #Nippon #love #redress #redhead #anotherworld #Japanesetv #workinJapan #Workingholiday #Mediawork #撮影 #fun #career #behindthescenes #bts

Happy Monday! Visiting Japanese Master Swordsmith Akihira Kawasaki san. 埼玉県刀鍛冶:川﨑晶平さん @akihira.kokaji Japanese swords, or nihonto/token have a long and rich traditional history. Before being used in war it is said they were made as offerings to the gods, and buried in tombs of royalty.  Traditional swordsmithing and polishing artesians have passed their techniques down over generations and are the backbone of traditional Japanese sword culture.  The other day I visited Master Swordsmith Akihira Kawasaki at his workshop in Saitama. I first met him during the WABISABI festival @saitama_wabisabi and it was an honour to be able to go and visit him. 先日埼玉刀鍛冶の川﨑晶平さんの作場へお邪魔しました。 His workshop was amazing. So many things I haven't seen before.作業場がとても面白かったです！始めてみるものばっかりでした。 He let me try to help mold the tamahagane with a massive mallet. It was super heavy but an amazing experience. なんと!体験させて頂きました😃動画是非ご覧ください。 The furnace/hado is the place that heats the steel used to make swords. The bellows are connected to the side of the furnace and he wind must be controlled and steady.   The light in the workspace is kept low when using fire in order to clearly see its colour and height and the condition of the tamahagane steel.   火床が（ほど）鋼（はがね）を熱する炉。火を使う作業はここで行なわれます。鞴（ふいご）火床のすぐ横に備え付けられている送風装置です。 During his apprenticeship Akihira san made all his tools by hand. They are custom made to his particular style of work and his hand size.  We looked at the many pairs of hibashi or implements for holding tamahagane. If they are too heavy the artesian may tire, if too light a firm grip can become difficult and can be dangerous. 火箸（ひばし）が玉鋼や刀身を挟んで支えるための道具。挟み口の形が何種類もあり、作業内容によって使い分けます。 Straw, water, clay and coal are also very important. Small changes in the quality of any of these items will affect the look and feel of the final blade.  The mallet or ozuchi is also a very important piece of equipment. In these photos you can see another swordsmith: Shimojima san working in tandem with Akihira san on the tamahagane. 大槌（おおづち）や「向槌」（むこうづち）も大切な道具で、鋼を鍛錬するときと、素延べ（すのべ：鋼を日本刀の長さまで延ばす作業）の際に使います。 #⚔️ #日本刀 #刀鍛冶 #伝統 #katana #swordsmith #polishing #Japan #tradition #Saitama #埼玉 #埼玉県美里町 #晶平鍛刀道場