Touken Matsumoto (English)

This last weekend we hosted the first sword appreciation class of this semester. It is the 5th consecutive year that we offer these lessons to interested people.

Eleven members of the old group remained and seven new were added.
Among the new students, there was a young lady and a young man. Something that made me very happy. Although, they may have been a little hesitant at first, they were quickly taken in by the rest of our group, much like new family is smoothly integrated.

I look forward to seeing their knowledge and enthusiasm grow.

A customer of ours spoke to me about a video clip that is trending on the internet. It is made by Yasukawa Electric Corporation and has a robot mimicking the cuts of a master swordsman. As I searched for the video, I found my acquaintance Machii sensei was the swords man that taught the robot to cut. Machii sensei has reached worldwide recognition for his super human ability to cut very fast and very accurate.

I would encourage anyone interested to go to YouTube and look at the video.
I myself was amazed by the highly innovative technology and the human skill displayed.

I was moved by the beauty of the clean actions of a master using a Japanese sword.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3XyDLbaUmU

On June 5th, I, our accountant, business partners and our staff took a trip to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The aim of our trip was to educate ourselves, on the subject of Korean culture and history.

The planning for this journey has been long in the making, and it came to me as an idea several years ago. As June marks the 5th anniversary for my involvement with the company, it seemed that the timing was right. During this period, I have worked very hard, sometimes in to the early hours, to realize my wishes for the company.

Unexpectedly, an somewhat worryingly, there was a localized outbreak of the MERS virus which made me concerned for everyone’s safety, and I contemplated calling off the whole thing. However, after gathering information from the Japanese consulate and local authorities in Seoul, I realized that the risk of catching the virus was minuscule, and thus saw the adventure through.
As expected, no harm came to anyone’s health and we had a good time.

During our visit, we went to the national museum, and visited the check point between North and South Korea. We saw a traditional Korean play at a theater and visited the world heritage site ‘Changdeok Palace’. It was all very pleasant.

It has been a long time since I last traveled abroad and I would like to do so again in the near future, which is why I will keep working very hard.

Last weekend, we hosted the 9th Ningyocho Token Ichi in Tokyo. A lot of our customers came to visit and we spent much time discussing the different aspects of the Japanese sword. I always find these talks enlightening and I was pleasantly surprised that so many congratulated me on my official appointment to the Japanese Sword Traders Association. Some of them even brought me gifts which I appreciated very much. The outcome of the event was better than I expected and I feel very grateful for the continued support I enjoy from people that I more or less have come to consider as family.

On 23 May, I took part in a lesson on how to forge a Kogatana at the forge of Takano Mitsuyuki a sword smith located in Tokyo.

It was the first time I tried my hand at this craft, and I enjoyed the experience quite a lot, much due to the kindness and assistance from Amemiya Tosho, Takano Tosho’s disciple. During this single day event, I got to experience Yasurigake (rough filing), Senkezuri (working the metal with a plainer), Uchinobashi (hammering out the metal), Meigiri (signing the blade), Tsuchioki (clay coating) and Yakiire (tempering).
Though my result was probably quite mediocre compared to Amemiya san’s, at least the experience gave me an insight and appreciation for the skills and hard work of a sword smith.
I was however very pleased to see the shape of the Sori after quenching my blade and I thought the Hamon was rather pleasing as well.

I shared the day’s lesson and experiences with one other first timer, a medical student, who, after the lesson explained to me that though he was studying medicine, it was his heart’s desire to become a sword smith.

Since I left the financial world and entered that of the sword tradesman, it has now been 5 years.

I realize that there is still much for me to study and learn. It is therefore my hope and wish that I will grow with my new responsibility as a newly selected member of the All Japan Sword Traders Association’s board.

I will work hard to become a link between the new and old as well as between the junior and senior. Although I’m still young and not as experienced as my seniors, I will do my best to bring my experiences from the world of financial companies to further bring a dynamical aspect to my new assignment.

As of last month, you may have noticed that the URL address on your computer becomes green when you visit our home page. This is because I have required the service of Symantec to make our website more secure for you. I believe I may be the first sword trader in Japan to have a home page encrypted for the customer’s and visitor’s safety, with any personal information.
We have always treated any information that you share with us, with the at most discretion and respect, but as there are more criminal activity drawn to the internet, I feel this is a precaution that is well worth the investment. It is just one more step for us to give you the privacy and security you deserve.

For the last 4 years, it has been my pleasure and privilege to study with the guidance of Watanabe Taeko sensei. During this time, I have had a lot of opportunities to familiarize myself with some exclusive swords at the Sano museum, that are not easily available for closer studies to the general public, due to the fact that they are kept conserved behind glass.
As I have passed through the beginner’s level and graduated from the advanced class, I feel that I will now take my studies to a practical level more suited for my business.
I feel a lot of gratitude towards Watanabe sensei for her patience and great knowledge, and hope that I may, in some small way be a reflection of my teacher.

Last weekend, we had a regular auction event at our shop. I am happy to say that it was quite successful and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that participated.

I see a growing interest in the Japanese sword and I think this is reflected in many ways. More and more people are learning about the Japanese sword and more people are getting involved in the business. I am happy to say that I think the Japanese economy and the way it is becoming stronger is one reason for this.

In the future, I would like to help others to understand the sword and the business world around it better.

Recently, a cell phone game called ‘Token Ranbu’ has become very popular in Japan, especially with young women. There was an article about this trend in a Japanese financial paper named ‘the Nikkei Shimbun’, which talked about how famous swords made by legendary sword smiths are the main characters in the game. At book stores, there are books and magazines about Japanese swords and swords men that I think will help alongside the game to make the Japanese sword more popular and spread the interest to groups that haven’t had any interest in them before. This may lead to a little sword boom in Japan which I find really encouraging.

As a member of the ‘TOKENKAI’, a newsletter published every other month, I am sometimes asked to write articles to be featured in said newsletter.
This time, I had the pleasure to write about a future movie project, by the name of ‘TATARA SAMURAI’. This movie will be directed by Yoshinari Nishikori, and the Executive producer is none other than Hiro, of the music group EXILE, one of Japan’s most famous pop bands. The lead role will be played by Sho Aoyagi, also a member of EXILE.
Thus, this week I found myself partaking in a meeting with the chairman of NBTHK, as well as other members of the management, to plan for the movie.
Since this movie examines the work and mind of a Japanese swordsmith, as well as the subtle artistry and beauty, that is a result of the dedicated work and years of polishing mind and spirit, needed for the craft, I think it will be popular among both young and old. I also expect the enthusiasm and involvement of Hiro and Sho, both artists in their own right, to further inspire the younger generation.
The movie is to premier in May 2016.

Last Sunday, we had the distinct pleasure and honor of hosting a lecture by the master craftsman, Ozawa Norishige, a sword smith who has received several prizes from the NBTHK, and who kindly shared some of his expertise and deep insight on forging a Japanese sword, with us. Ozawa Tosho is a student of Takano Yukimitsu, of the Ono Yoshimitsu linage, and both a kind and humble man.

As a result of Ozawa Tosho’s lecture, there was a great boost of enthusiasm in all that attended the event. Just as Ozawa Tosho’s beautiful character shines through in his swords, his understanding of this ancient skill becomes clearly apparent through his words.

After the event, I put forth a request to have a Tanto in Akihiro-utsushi style, by Ozawa Tosho, which he kindly agreed to make. I am looking forward with great anticipation, to display the Tanto at the next lecture of his, I am certain it will be a very interesting item to study for all participants. It is, I feel, our duty to safe guards his level of skill and insight, to make sure it is not lost for the future generations.

Should you the reader, be interested in further following this excellent sword smith, you can do so by clicking the link below;

https://www.facebook.com/umevayasi/photos_stream?tab=photos_stream

Last weekend, Touken Matsumoto hosted its 8th Ningyocho Token Ichi. Although the weather forecast, once again, predicted heavy snow, the weather remained fine.

This time, I had tried a new way of advertising, using flyers inserted into the Asahi-shimbun, which proved successful.

The turn up to the event was good and I am happy that so many of our friends and customers support us. Thank you very much.

In the future, I hope to inspire our group of customers, friends and clients to grow, so that we all benefit from our mutual interest and relationship.

The past weekend, we hosted the 5th Noda Token Ichi and it went off without a hitch. The weather was beautiful throughout the event and I was happy to see a lot of familiar faces. Through advertising in the Chiiki Shimbun, we were able to reach a larger aria of enthusiasts than previously. However, through a misunderstanding, some customers showed up after 3 pm on the last day and I would like to apologize for any inconvenience as they may have come from far away. The first 2 days we always close at 5 pm. I would also like to express my gratitude to those who, through the internet, found out and traveled long distances to attend.
Through establishing new relationships with some new visitors, I was able to have pleasant conversations with many people and look forward to speaking and communicating with them soon again. It made me very happy to hear people say that they have been looking forward to coming to our events, and it warms my heart and make it worth the effort of organizing the events.
I will make more efforts to improve these events and I am looking forward to an even better 6th Noda Token Ichi taking place on the 10th to 12th of July opening the doors at 10 am and closing at 5 pm. The event will take place at the Hotel Granbois.

Last month, as my father took a step back as director of the company, I shouldered this responsibility and the tasks that come with it.

It has almost been five years since I started this journey at Touken Matsumoto, and thanks to the staff and people around me, the company and myself are growing steadily.

As a sword trader and a connoisseur, I have still a lot of things to learn before I am at an expert level. However, with the support of my father and other teachers of mine, I feel confident that one day I may realize the goals I have set for myself and for the company.

So, as the new year begins, I look forward to it with great anticipations and would like to thank you as well as wish you all a happy 2015.