The Swordsmith and the Collector: A Private Katana Day from Tokyo
A morning in the forge of a fifth-generation swordsmith, then an afternoon with one of Japan's great private collections of samurai swords, the blades placed in your own hands.
Overview
Hiroshi Kojima has been making swords since January 1975, when the third Naohiro took him on as an apprentice. He earned his swordsmith's licence in 1981, and in 1996, after his master died, he took the name he still works under: Keiun Naohiro, fifth of the line. Collectors abroad know him by that name. Only close friends call him Hiroshi.
Noriyuki Shizuka comes at the sword from the other side. A former Executive Director of the Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai (NBTHK), the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, he still travels to its branches in Japan and overseas to teach appraisal. For more than forty years he has also been buying swords for himself. The result, known simply as the Shizuka Collection, is among the finest private holdings of Japanese swords in the country. It lives in his house, not in a museum.
Other companies will take you to a forge in Saitama. Only we can take you into Mr Shizuka's home. The day begins in your hotel lobby in Tokyo and ends there in time for dinner. In between come the Shinkansen north, a morning at Keiun Naohiro's anvil, lunch, and an afternoon at Mr Shizuka's table. There he takes the blades out one at a time, tells you where each came from and what he sees in it, and then hands it to you. You go home understanding how a Japanese sword is made, and, which is rarer, how one
is judged
Details
❖ Pick Up at your hotel
Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby in Tokyo at 9:00, and you take a taxi to Tokyo Station
❖ Honjō-Waseda Station
The Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen takes you north to Honjo-Waseda in approximately 50 minutes.
Upon arrival at Honjo-Waseda Station, another private car will pick you up and take you to the swordsmith’s workshop, where you will learn about how Japanese swords are made, their history, fascinating details, and more.
❖ Keioun Naohiro's House & Forge
During the tour, we will also have the opportunity to visit Keioun Naohiro’s forge/workshop, located just a few minutes’ walk from his home. Together, these visits offer a unique glimpse into the life of Keioun Naohiro, who has dedicated himself to the art of creating Japanese swords.
Although guests will not forge a sword themselves, they will have the opportunity to see the tools the swordsmith uses, learn how he makes and maintains them, and gain further insight into the traditional techniques and craftsmanship behind Japanese swordmaking.
❖ Lunch break
Once the visit to the forge is complete, the group will stop for lunch at Fureai no Sato Izumitei, one of the area’s renowned local soba restaurants. If guests have a preference for another restaurant, this can be arranged upon request.
❖ Mr Shizuka's home & collection
The second part of the journey focuses on visiting an extensive private collection of katanas and historical artifacts. So car continues to Mr Shizuka's home you will can explore the collection in a private and intimate setting.
Upon entering Mr. Shizuka’s private room, guests will have the opportunity to view rare katanas from different periods of Japanese history up close. Mr. Shizuka will introduce selected pieces, sharing their unique characteristics, craftsmanship, and historical significance.
The katana collection also includes a selection of delicate sword ornaments and fittings, featuring intricate details crafted with pure gold plating.
You can also explore his collection of traditional ceramics, fine art, and historical artifacts, including antique firearms once used in Japan. The collection feels like a private museum, offering a rare glimpse into Japan’s cultural heritage through a highly personal and intimate setting.
❖ Drop-off at your hotel
The car returns you to Honjo-Waseda for the Shinkansen back to Tokyo,
and a taxi takes you to your hotel by around 18:00, well before dinner.
❖ Keiun Naohiro (Hiroshi Kojima)
Born on 22 January 1957. Apprenticed in January 1975 to the third Naohiro, Masayoshi Yanagawa. Licensed as a swordsmith in May 1981, after which he set up his own forge. In 1996, on his master's death, he succeeded to the name as the fifth Naohiro and took the art name Keiun. His senior fellow apprentice, Eiichi Matsubara, became the fourth Naohiro at the same time.
Born on 22 January 1957. Apprenticed in January 1975 to the third Naohiro, Masayoshi Yanagawa. Licensed as a swordsmith in May 1981, after which he set up his own forge. In 1996, on his master's death, he succeeded to the name as the fifth Naohiro and took the art name Keiun. His senior fellow apprentice, Eiichi Matsubara, became the fourth Naohiro at the same time.
❖ Noriyuki Shizuka
Former Executive Director of the Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai (NBTHK), the public-interest foundation devoted to preserving Japanese art swords and making them better understood. He remains an active appraiser and teaches at the foundation's branches across Japan and abroad. He has collected Japanese swords for more than four decades, and few people in Japan know the subject as deeply or own swords of comparable quality in such number.
❖ Handling the swords
You hold each sword by the hilt. The blade itself is never touched with bare hands. Mr Shizuka shows you how to take each piece before he passes it across, and his instructions are followed throughout. ❖ Buying a sword
Some pieces may be available to buy, if Mr Shizuka agrees after discussion with you. Export and import rules for swords vary by country, and guests are responsible for confirming how a sword can be taken or shipped home before agreeing to a purchase.
OPTIONS
Notes
Available year-round, on request. Dates are arranged around the schedules
of Keiun Naohiro and Mr Shizuka, so please enquire early.
A private experience for one or two guests. No other guests join.
The day includes a round trip by Shinkansen and several car journeys. You
are back at your hotel by around 18:00.
A sword may be purchased only with Mr Shizuka's agreement. Taking it
home is the guest's responsibility (see Buying a sword above).
The itinerary may be adjusted based on weather conditions or venue closures.
Please inform us of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance.
The itinerary may be adjusted based on weather conditions or venue closures.
Meeting Point
At Your Hotel Lobby (Tokyo 23 Wards)
What's included:
English Speaking guide
Photos of tour participants
Hotel pick-up and drop-off (Tokyo 23 Wards)
Round-trip taxi between your hotel and Tokyo Station
Local Tax
Round-trip taxi and Shinkansen
Private taxi between forge and collection's house
Private car from Honjo-Waseda Station to the forge and Mr Shizuka's home
Forge visit and lecture by Keiun Naohiro
Private viewing of the Shizuka Collection at Mr Shizuka's home
Lunch
What's not included:
Knife or katana forging experience
Pick-up and drop-off outside the Tokyo 23 Ward
Dinner (you are back at your hotel before dinner)
Drinks other than those served at lunch
Personal expenses
Purchase of any sword, and its export or shipping
Free cancellation up to 8 days before the experience starts (local time)
Private experience
1
-
2
Participants
Saitama
From ¥0 / person
9 hours
Traveler Photos
From ¥0 / person
9 hours
Saitama