sword making etc

[Geoff B]

Greetings from down under...I am a new boy on the block for this forum, but a long time admirer of the Japanese blade.

My father does have a katana from WWII (picked off the side of the road after being released from the camp in Sumatra) however has not been inspected yet. More on this later.....!

I have been involved in Martial Arts for decades and will be traveling to Okinawa in 3 weeks for a 2 week stay to immerse myself in The Way. I have a letter of introduction to dojo there from my chief instructor here in NZ and would like to experience as much as possible...

 

Please - can anybody help me ?

 

I would dearly love to make contact and visit in the Naha region (or Tokyo - I am spending 4 days there on my way home) a sword-smith with view to studying this topic further and promoting the research here in NZ further.

My background of 3 decades is manufacturing engineering and so I understand the blade making process and steel refinement.

I also understand that a visit to a sword-smith is a very special thing and production is very personal.

I have been studying this topic "in my peripheral vision" for a number of years now and want to learn more.

 

Any advice would be gratefully received, and at a minimum visit some great museums.

 

Geoff