Did You See the Documentary on Japanese Swordmaking?

[redsquid2]

I saw this documentary about, um, 4 or 5 years ago. It was a complete explanation of how swordmaking craft is preserved in Japan.

I'm remembering the part towards the end, where the guy is sharpening the swords. This dude has been learning how to do this for years and years. He has cut his fingers in the process of learning. He has a box full of teeny tiny stones. He gets a stone wet, and he puts it on the tip of his finger, then he runs it up and down the edge.

I searched for it online, but couldn't find it. don't remember if it was PBS, or BBC, or something else.

 

[redsquid2]

And don't worry. I have no intention of "teaching myself" how to sharpen that way.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Yes, I've seen that. "Secrets of the Samurai Sword". Very interesting program, featuring beginning-to-end making of the sword, in the 'old way'. I had meant to buy the DVD, but haven't gotten around to it (pretty sure it's still in my 'Shopping Cart' on Amazon ).

It was on Nova (PBS), originally broadcast in 2007. Here's a link:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/samurai/

 

[stoffi]

Yeah I've seen it. It was good, but it left me wanting for more. It was made for the masses, so it wasn't very in-depth, although it did go through all the steps. I just would have wanted to see and learn more about them.