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Forging a Katana by a Japanese Swordsmith - Full Process Unveiled

History of Katana 【HOK】

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This video documents the sword-making process by Mori Sukemitsu, the most prolific swordsmith in Japan today.

This video is the first in the world to fully document the entire process of making a Japanese sword, from start to finish, without any staging or substitutions.

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Check out Mori Sukemitsu's YouTube channel here!!:
@長舩すけみつ

 00:00 Opening
00:37 Charcoal Cutting / Sumikiri
02:34 Block Forming / Tama-heshi
06:39 Teko Attachment / Teko-zuke
08:53 Folding Forging / Orikaeshi-tanren
14:43 Core & Outer Steel Construction / Tsukurikomi
17:14 Boiling Extension / Wakashi-nobe
19:25 Preliminary Shaping / Sunobe
23:40 Final Shaping / Hizukuri
27:31 Rough Finishing / Nama-shiage
30:21 Clay Coating / Tsuchioki
31:58 Quenching / Yaki-ire
35:10 Polishing & Sharpening / Kaji-togi
37:31 Test Cutting / Tameshigiri
38:03 Finishing & Engraving / Shiage・Meikiri
39:42 Completion

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20 Comments

@HistoryofKatana Creator 1 year ago (edited) Pinned

Let’s make this real Japanese swordsmithing video the most-watched katana forging video ever!
☕ Say thanks and support our videos! Every coffee funds editing, research, and new episodes! https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofkatana

This video is the first in the world to fully document the entire process of making a Japanese sword, from start to finish, without any staging or substitutions.

Many videos featured in mainstream media contain staged elements, but this video captures the authentic sword-making process exactly as it is practiced by Japanese swordsmiths.

In addition to traditional handcrafting techniques, Japanese swordsmiths also use hammers and modern tools. This is a common practice in contemporary sword-making and an essential part of ensuring efficiency and precision.

We invite you to witness this rare and valuable footage.

🔥 Share it and help spread the appreciation of this ancient art!

Let me know what you think! I read every comment!👇

@jdubb2718 1 year ago

Incredible when you think that smiths hundreds of years ago had no modern equipment and were creating absolute PERFECT blades. Really shows just how incredibly mastered they were!

@abrahammcintosh6237 1 year ago

Am I the only one who wanted to see the rest of the process and assembly? Man I bet it looked amazing

@ytobserver-vic5027 7 months ago

Now I get why Haganezuka-san wanted to beat Tanjiro whenever he breaks a Katana

@mateuszkulpa1859 1 year ago

Some might say it's just a sharpened piece of metal. However, the skill and dedication of the creator give it soul. Greetings from Poland. We also love our Polish sabres.

@mrskywars1237 1 year ago

for those saying this is not the “traditional” method of forging japanese swords, you are wrong. japanese swordsmithing experienced a resurrection in the early 1900s as an incarnation of shintoist ideals. the use of modern methods such as power hammering and belt sanding simply make the forging process more efficient, and is not actually forbidden.

@timkaase6945 9 months ago

These traditional katanas are not just swords, they're absolute works of art.
I love watching anything being handmade,these artists put their blood,sweat,tears,and heart into everything they make.

@shanewright344 1 year ago

Building just one sword is a labor intensive task, even with modern smithing tools and machinery. Props to these guys who still dedicate themselves to a dying art.

@briankaelin7728 5 months ago

The Japanese have some of the best craftsmen on the planet. The amount of time that goes into one of these blades is astounding

@Mischiefz33 8 months ago (edited)

I find it crazy that he polishes and sharpens his own swords....most katana and wakizashi are sent out for polishing, a process that takes a month or longer. The japanese people are amazing and I have nothing but respect. so many of them dedicate their entire life to a single thing, from what western culture would consider lowly jobs such as serving, street sweeper on up to master sword makers, chefs....whatever they do, they dedicate their lives to perfecting every aspect of it.

For those that didn't know, or missed it in the video....the curve to katana is caused by the differential cooling during quenching.....the thicker clay alone spine, above the hamone makes it cool at a different rate, and the steel bends / curves from it

@HistoryTales55 2 months ago

Watching a swordsmith work really changes the way you think about historical weapons. A katana wasn't simply an object carried by a warrior; behind every blade stood miners, steel producers, smiths, polishers, and other specialized craftspeople. The finished sword represents an entire network of knowledge and craftsmanship rather than the work of just one moment at the forge.