What he is after
His motto is 古刀再現 (kotō saigen): reproducing the swords of the ancient period. To that end he studies the forging furnaces of the Nara period and makes steel from iron sand.
It is a different line from that of those who compete every year in the NBTHK competition: his known work consists of reproductions, offerings and study pieces rather than competition swords.
Reproductions and offering works
- A copy of the 鶴丸国永 (Tsurumaru Kuninaga), for the shrine of Fujinomori (藤森神社) in Kyoto, in 2018.
- A copy of the 薬研藤四郎 (Yagen Tōshirō), for the shrine of Kenkun (建勲神社), in 2019.
- A weapon of the type of the naginata of the 正倉院 (Shōsōin), in 2016.
- Tachi and naginata for the Atsuta Jingū (2005, 2012 and 2017), swords for the Kashima Jingū (2006) and a tamahagane mirror (2019).
- The 隕星剣 (Inseiken), of meteoric iron (1992), which was exhibited in 2019 at the Fukushima prefectural museum.
- A sword for cutting iron (2009) and an ōdachi of 2.16 m (2014).
Gallery
A blade of ancient form, with the tang ending in a ring, on both sides: one of his reproductions. Photo: the smith himself 
The hardening (焼き入れ, yaki-ire) of a blade, at night. Photo: the smith himself 
The public forging at Aizu-Wakamatsu, on 21 September 2019. Still from the video, © みなとムービー (Minato mūbī) · © みなとムービー (Minato mūbī) · source 
The cover of the book 『ふくしま手語り 孤高の鎚音』 (Fukushima tegatari: Kokō no tsuchioto, 2019). Photo: the smith himself