Swordsmith
とうけんし
Industry & Occupation
Classification
Summary
A traditional craft technician who manufactures and repairs Japanese swords and other bladed weapons.
Description
Swordsmiths are traditional craft artisans who handle the production and restoration of swords in general, from blade forging to decorations on hilts and scabbards. The main processes involve selecting and melting tamahagane, refining steel through folding forging, adjusting hardness and toughness via quenching and tempering after shaping, then collaborating with polishers to draw out the hamon and perform final polishing. They also handle decoration processes such as gold inlay, hilt wrapping, and scabbard making. Emphasizing the inheritance of traditional techniques, they acquire skills through years of training under a master-apprentice relationship.
Future Outlook
Demand as traditional crafts is stable, but the aging of practitioners is progressing. Cultivating successors, developing overseas markets, and promotion using digital technology will be key in the future.
Personality Traits
Work Style
Exhibiting at shows / Made-to-order production / Repairs / Workshop work
Career Path
Apprentice (disciple) → Artisan (swordsmith) → Senior disciple (assistant sword craftsman) → Independent sword craftsman → Master and traditional craftsman
Required Skills
Basic knowledge of polishing processes / Folding forging / Metal processing / Quenching and tempering techniques / Tamahagane selection management
Recommended Skills
Chasing and inlay techniques / Historical sword knowledge / Material analysis / Restoration techniques
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Attention to Detail & Accuracy | Because the fine hamon and sharpening precision directly affect quality. |
| Creativity & Ideation | Need to pursue unique designs, decorations, and the beauty of the hamon. |
| Physical Stamina & Endurance | Requires physical strength for high-temperature work and heavy hammer striking. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Communication Skills | Mainly requires close collaboration with masters and sharpeners, but little coordination with large numbers of people. |
| Numerical & Quantitative Analysis | Intuition and experience are emphasized over strict numerical management. |
| Collaboration & Teamwork | Mainly individual work, with limited team operations. |
Related Qualifications
- Traditional craftsman
Aliases
- Sword craftsman
Related Jobs
- Arms craftsman
- Blacksmith
- Metalworking technician