JApanese Blacksmith project - to be continued in 2024

More to be added shortly

The following are a selection of images taken over three years as part of a collaborative book project with my close friend Kevin Kent, “The Knife Nerd’s Guide To Japanese Knives”. that was published in 2018.

It was such an honour to be given the opportunity to meet and photograph these Master Craftsmen at their forges!

One thing that is prevalent in many of these workshops is the single hanging bare incandescent light bulb that provided the only light in these workshops.

As a young kid I was always fascinated by blacksmithing, especially the craft of making damascus steel and blade smithing. Though I never actually pursued the craft as I always had too many hobbies on the go, I still had a love for it. late in 2015 I was asked by my good friend after my first gallery show if I would be interested in travelling to Japan to visit and photograph a number of different craftsman. Who wouldn’t jump at that opportunity! 2016 took me to Japan twice with a final trip to fill in any blanks in 2018. in total we visited something like 24 different craftsmen.

Iwasaki Kamisori Forge - Sanjo-Niigata

In the region of Niigata, A lovely little workshop set in the trees with old worn out grinding wheels used as stepping stones for the walkway leading up two the work shop. The Current master smith at this forge is Ryouichi Mizouchi seen in the photos below moves between the small forge, anvil and power hammer as he produces the finest Japanese straight razors or Kamisori. Mizouchi San was taught by Shigeyoshi Iwasaki who learned from his father Kosuke Iwasaki the famous metallurgist within Japan.

Takefu Knife Village - Echizen

Moritaka Hamono - Kumamoto

The Moritaka’s were first Japanese Blacksmiths I visited and a long two day train ride from Tokyo. The Moritaka Family are the most wonderful people and to experience a small part of their tradition was such an honour. The Moritaka Hamono was founded in 1293 and with over 700 years of blacksmithing tradition behind them they are the real deal.

24hrs after leaving the Moritaka Family, Kumamoto was struck by a series of devastating earthquakes starting on April 14th with the main quake registering 7.0 on April 16th, 2016.

TERUYASU FUJIWARA - Tokyo Region

I have visited with Fujiwara san a few times and the one thing that I altar remember is how dark his work shop was. this is the one forge that pushed my skills not to mention the camera but mostly me. We were picked up from the Tokyo airport after having traveled some 10hrs only to find ourselves travelling yet again by car to the workshop. It is now dark 11pm I think, exhausted ,and now I geared up to photograph Fujiwara San as he heat treated a number of blades. It was so dark, the only light was either a dirty old dim incandescent bulb hung down near his face or as in the photo below from glowing coals.