Swords and People: Fascinating Encounters at a Japanese sword Shop

Today, I visited Sokendo at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo after a long time.
Of course, the purpose of going to a sword shop is to see swords, but there are days when you encounter swords that you fall in love with, as well as interesting, chance meetings with various people who are completely different in age, job, and way of life from yourself.
Today was the latter type of day.

Every time I visit, the swords on display change slightly, which I find enjoyable. Today, a sword with a "touranba" blade by Sukenao（助直） caught my eye.
I had just learned at a viewing party the other day that the "kinsuji（金筋）" in the blade set it apart from Sukenao's touranba blades.
This sword also had kinsuji visible next to a deep "nioi-guchi（匂口）".

katana by Sukenao (Juyo Token)

A tachi by Yoshioka-Ichimonji（吉岡一文字）was also on display.
You can see the Chikei（地景） like undulating waves, but the Utsuri（映り） adds to it, creating a complex appearance.

Yoshioka-ichimonji tachi (Juyo Token)

Upon arriving at the shop and talking with the owner, I found out that they were coincidentally holding a sword seminar for foreigners that day, and I was allowed to participate at the last minute. (←Sudden development)

The seminar lasted about an hour, and in addition to how to look at swords, it also covered how they are made, what Japanese swords meant to the Japanese, and their role in Japanese culture.
I found it interesting to listen to.

There were many questions from the foreigners, such as "How many swords did a samurai have in the past?".

Especially when actually holding a Japanese sword, everyone's eyes were sparkling, and I realized that being moved by the beauty of Japanese swords is universal.

The hour flew by, and after it ended, we took photos.
For some reason, I was also included. Lol

I'm the second one from the right in the back.

After this, I exchanged business cards with everyone, and they were all incredible people. It's interesting to have chance encounters with people you wouldn't meet in daily life, which is what makes the world of Japanese swords, or perhaps the sword shops, interesting.
It might be because it's the Imperial Hotel...

On the way home, as always, I admired the flowers at the main entrance and then returned home. These also change every time I visit, which is enjoyable.

Thank you for reading this time as well!
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Wishing everyone a wonderful sword life～!

↓About the writer of this article (Sword display case craftsman, Keisuke Nakamura)

I produce and sell display cases for swords under the concept of "Living with a katana."