Hi there,
A 15th Generation Japanese Swordsmith Warns: “As Tools Advance, Skills Decline”
Inside the forge with Kazuki Kawashima-san in Osafune
We just released our latest History of Katana interview — and this one is very special.
Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHFOo03qlLk&list=PLOHgag_kQhdMAnDRIVUVW19aunqRoe1Gy&index=1
We had the honor of sitting down with Kazuki Kawashima-san, a 15th-generation Japanese swordsmith, at his forge in Osafune for a wide-ranging conversation about katana, craftsmanship, and what can be lost when tools become too convenient.
In this first segment, Kawashima-san explains why he believes the great Kamakura-period masters of 700 years ago were better than almost anyone forging swords today. He also shares his thoughts on electric hammers, apprentice strikers, and the difficult balance between efficiency and preserving skill.
The interview also explores kinobi, the Edo-period idea of functional beauty, and how beauty, discipline, and purpose are inseparable in the making of a true Japanese sword.
This is the first in a series of interviews we will be releasing with Kawashima-san. In upcoming segments, he shares how to spot forged Japanese swords, why he calls his blades mamori-gatana — protective guardians rather than weapons — and how Shinto traditions continue to shape the sacred atmosphere of the forge.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey. We’re very excited to share this rare conversation with you, and we hope you enjoy watching it.
Kind Regards,
Kei, Matt & Team from History of Katana
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