Making a Nodowa

[Samurai Art]

I was browsing YouTube when I noticed that Ogawa Sensei had released another insightful video on armour-making. Ogawa is a wonderful man who is always generous in sharing his knowledge and techniques.

When I visited Ogawa Sensei in Nagoya, he recommended I try making a nodowa, highlighting the challenges posed by the shape and curvature of the main ring. Shortly afterwards, I visited the Samurai Art Museum in Berlin and saw a nodowa missing this section. Inspired, I decided to make one for them to test my skills. I used mild steel, kokuso, and urushi. The nodowa is now displayed at the museum. 
 

Here are some photos I took to complement Ogawa Sensei's video.

[Samurai Art]

Some more photos. The final kuro urushi-nuri was polished to a black mirror finish.

[kissakai]

Thanks for posting. I was nice to see the use of templates and he also had loads more in the back wall

 

[Samurai Art]

Hi Grev,

Ogawa Sensei runs an open group that anyone can join (in Japan). The group creates superb armour.
Unfortunately, he had to stop using urushi because the dust caused him cancer. Now, the group uses cashew lacquer as an alternative. Ogawa Sensei has been extremely helpful and taught me some of the finer points of armour-making, especially lacing techniques. He is also a member of the Japanese Armour Society.

You can follow his group on YouTube and Facebook.

[Henri]

  On 5/21/2024 at 10:03 AM, Samurai Art said:

I was browsing YouTube when I noticed that Ogawa Sensei had released another insightful video on armour-making. Ogawa is a wonderful man who is always generous in sharing his knowledge and techniques.

When I visited Ogawa Sensei in Nagoya, he recommended I try making a nodowa, highlighting the challenges posed by the shape and curvature of the main ring. Shortly afterwards, I visited the Samurai Art Museum in Berlin and saw a nodowa missing this section. Inspired, I decided to make one for them to test my skills. I used mild steel, kokuso, and urushi. The nodowa is now displayed at the museum. 
 

Here are some photos I took to complement Ogawa Sensei's video.

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This is a very good introduction video for armour beginners and amateurs because it is something that just about anybody can make. So it is a good entry project.     The most important difference is that Ogawa san also known as Atsuta sensei- his artist name,  uses a soft steel that has a bit of aluminum, to make it easier to fourm and not tear, also he is not using urushi.  He is using paint primer in the video.  I dont know if Atsuta sensei ever actually did the art of urushi, but it is a whole different technique than in the video. Atsuta sensei is a very kind man and in recent years has devoted his live to sharing his knowledge at a hobbiest level for average people who wish to try to make samurai armour.  He is also very humble about saying that his works should not be compared to the real thing which uses more traditional techniques and materials.  He is open to teaching just about anybody.