The art of making swords in Japan is an interesting thing. The process has existed thousands of years and remained relatively unchanged, though it should be noted that there has been no documented records for the process in the last 1200 years going back to the Heian period. Its because of this lack of records that having a disciple to teach how to make a koto sword is so crucial. A sword maker in japan could be the greatest in the world at what he does, but if he has no one to teach, it would all be for a loss.
A koto sword is more than a sword. It’s a culture, a history, a tradition. If the instruction is not clearly communicated and well supervised, then the product becomes weak. With each new generation, the quality of the product and the disciple will thin, and reflect its traditions, culture and history less accurately until eventually the product is lost.
If we ignore our responsibilities as teachers to those beside us, we will fail to have succeeded in anything. All efforts would be for a loss if we are unable to at least preserve the knowledge of our experiences for the benifit of others. Without it, what hope is there to expect the next generation will surpass our greatest mistakes with their greatest achievements?
I want my disciple to surpass me as a sword maker.It is my duty to build up a disciple better than me.Otherwise, the tradition will wear thin within time.
- Korehira Watanabe
I don’t “geek” out too often, but seeing as how the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of my all-time favorite stories, I couldn’t help but be a little overwhelmed with excitement when I stumbled across this video. What’s even more interesting though was Peter Jackson’s thorough explanation into how modern 3D techniques work and are applied live on set. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “how do they do that?” then you should definitely give this a look.
I have commented before on my great love for all things Halloween, in particular scary movies. However one thing that’s been growing in popularity is the trend of outdoor lights but for Halloween.
29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.
As a professional creative, I find the task of actually STAYING creative to be the most difficult and most frequent issue I face. So saying, having a plethora of creative inspirations to turn too at any given moment is an absolute must.
You won’t be successful because you live to be 105, you’ll just be painfully old. As its been said before, life is lived in the margins. Its the in between part that counts.
Let’s face it, good advice is good advice no matter who or when it comes from. And honestly, who else really knows you better than yourself?
It never seems to go the way you picture it, life that is.
You pictured the wife delivering the baby at the hospital and you with your flip camera in the corner, trying to capture the moment in between waives of faintness from what you’re witnessing. Yet in reality you didn’t make it to the hospital, and instead your on the side of the road in rural nowhere fashioning your favorite jacket into something like a catchers mitt (as if its coming out like a fastball) and no one else is there to guide you other than the local cattle who seem surprisingly shocked at your lack of preparation.
There are things in life that happen that we don’t always prefer or understand. Moments that make or break us, mold and shape us into who we will one day become. They’re typically not enjoyable, or even slightly jovial. They come in a slow build like the turn of a clock, and sometimes they come like the turn of a corner.
“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”
