Categories
Traditional

Katana

Katanas are a type of Japanese sword, but nowadays the term is internationally used to talk about all Japanese swords in general. They are considered as the best swords ever created, they have a curved shape and they are many different types and sizes.

Strictly talking a katana has around 70 cm, the longest ones are called tachi and were used by cavalry. The short versions are called wakizashi and kodachi, which are equivalent to our daggers. Samurais where equiped with a katana for the face to face fights and a short wakizashi to kill by surprise without being seen.


This is a katana forged 900 years ago by Sanjo Munechika, and is one of the oldest katanas in the National Museum (Ueno Station at Tokyo

It can be appreciated how dedicated, simple and well done were the Japanese tools on those times while at Europe we had huge and rough swords.

Nowadays katanas are created by some artists, people from the Mukansa clan seem to be the best. Two of the Musakansa family members are Living National Treasures selected by the Japanese Government.

If you wanna by a katana, you can find average katanas at some hidden shops at Asakusa (Tokyo). I took one video inside of one of those shops.

Next, some videos were the sharpness of the katana edge can be appreciated.


At this last video there is a little explanation about how katanas are made.

Categories
Music

Tokyo's Rockabilly Club

Tokyo’s Yoyogi park is one of the most interesting places to walk around on Sundays. There are lots of people from many different urban tribes doing what they like freely. If you are planning to travel to Tokyo, Yoyogi is next to Harajuku station at the Yamanote line.

Next you can watch one video and some pictures of Tokyo’s Rockabilly Club people at Yoyogi.

Categories
Traditional

Furoshiki – 風呂敷

“Furoshiki” is the name of a traditional wrapping cloth that were used in the old times for cloths and object transport. Nowadays it’s not really used but the Japanese Government is making some campaigns in order to promote its use, in fact “furoshiki” are low-tech reusable multiuse bags that do not fill any space.

Let’s see how “furoshiki” works with some pictures. Try using a tablecloth with square shape.


Put the objects in the center.


Make a knot using two corners.


Another knot using the other two corners.


Pass one of the knots through the hole that is opened at the other one.


Pull hard and you will obtain a handle that will allow you to transport oranges easily.


Picture from the other side.


Now one example with two bottles. Put both bottles ten centimeters from one of the diagonals and with a little gap between them.


Roll using one side.


Roll the other.


Finish rolling.


Pull up both bottles slowly.


Tie the ends creating a handle.


It’s a bag!

Next you have some more methods explained by a picture from the Ministry of Environment.

And this video will give you even more ideas about “furoshiki”.