手作りナイフ体験＠坂城「鉄の展示館」 Knife-Making “Experience” at the Sakaki Katana Museum

戸倉上山田温泉の隣の坂城町に人間国宝の宮入先生の記念館にもなる「鉄の展示館」という刀の博物館があります。定期的に「手つくりナイフを作ろう!」という体験コースをやっています。昨日は友達と息子達を連れて、やってきました。宮入行平先生の息子さんがやり方を皆に教えていました。思い出になる経験でした。次は11月22日（日）、午前の部は10：00から、午後の部は13：30から、約一時間半程度、参加費は500円です。詳しくは坂城町鉄の展示館 Tel(0268)82-1128

When you think of 'traditional' Japan, what images come to mind? Geisha, Ninja, Samurai, Katana...

Geisha still exist, but are becoming increasingly obsolete in today's society. In addition, fewer and fewer young women today see becoming a geisha as a viable career. Here in our town, Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, there are still 35 geisha, down from a peak of over 350 in the Showa heydays. It's a struggle, but efforts are being made to preserve the living geisha heritage in our town.

Ninja schools also continue to exist in Japan in pockets here and there. In Nagano, we are fortunate to have the Togakure Ninja School's heritage, kept alive by a group of active practicioners. They offer free access to their weekly lessons where you can experience real, honest, actual, wouldn't-be-unusual-to-break-a-bone ninja lessons every Sunday night in Togakshi -- for Free!

Samurai were officially ended with the Meiji Restoration. However, their memory is kept alive by their descendants all across the country. Our neighbor across the street from Kamesei have a museum-like room in their house that includes the battle armor of their great-great-great ancestor.

Katana swords you would also think would be on the verge of extinction. However, in Nagano Prefecture alone there are 5 or 6 swordsmiths that continue to make katana today. In neighboring Sakaki Town, there is the "Museum of Tetsu (Steel) in Sakaki" dedicated to Living National Treasure Hirayuki Miyairi. Miyairi-sensei has since passed on, but his apprentices as well as his son carry on the sword-making tradition today.

The museum occasionally offers Knife Making By Hand lessons. My buddy Matt and I took our kids yesterday to experience it ourselves, under the traditional teachings of junior Miyairi-sensei. Using traditional tools and methods, we each made our own little knife.

The next lesson is scheduled for 22-November (Sunday) from 10am and again 1:30pm (each lesson runs about an hour and a half). Cost is 500 yen per person. For info, contact the museum at 0268-82-1128 or on the web at http://tetsu.town.sakaki.nagano.jp.