NIPPON GENSHOSHA
新し -ARATASHI-
FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 30, 2026
This exhibition does not aim to redefine the existing perspectives surrounding Japanese swords.
They are crafts, weapons, and cultural heritage.
Japanese swords have been placed within various contexts over a long period. While there has been a cumulative approach to organizing these contexts, it seems that there exists a way of creation that cannot be fully expressed by these frameworks alone.
The act of sword-making continues as a current practice. This is carried out by a collaboration of three artisans from the Nihon Genshosha. It is not merely a continuation for preservation or inheritance; rather, it is a conscious decision to persist in the craft of sword-making in this era, made anew with each choice.
One sword is displayed in this space, covered in resin. This treatment is not for protection or decoration. It is a choice to temporarily set aside the functions and immediate meanings that the sword traditionally carries. By rendering it incapable of cutting, distance is created from power and utility, allowing form, time, and the decisions of creation to come to the forefront. As a singular form devoid of excessive narratives, only the traces of its making remain faintly.
What is taking place here is not a redefinition of the Japanese sword. It is also not a translation of tradition into contemporary art.
The work by Nihon Genshosha remains a current act, and the fact that their decisions and craftsmanship take shape in this era is quietly presented in the realm of contemporary art.
※Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the support of Kojima-an for the lanterns used in this exhibition.
"Are Japanese swords merely weapons?
When I first stepped into the world of swordsmithing, my only wish was to create Japanese swords of the highest functional beauty.
Yet, as I began to study them in depth, I realized that Japanese swords are more than tools of war—they can be talismans, family treasures passed down through generations, and even sources of spiritual strength.
Conversations with clients who wish to have swords forged for them made me realize that people today hold the same reverence and emotional connection toward the Japanese sword as those in the past.
To create something truly unique for each owner, I pour that sentiment into every blade I forge.
When I look at swords from ages past, I can sense the ingenuity of the swordsmiths of their time. Details such as whether the weapon was used on horseback or on foot, in what posture, and under what circumstances make me imagine the world in which each sword was created.
Looking at such old works inspires me to reflect on what kind of sword a modern swordsmith like myself can create today.
While I continue to uphold the timeless ideals, "sharp, unbending, and unbreakable", I also ask: what form should a Japanese sword take in an age without war?
From that thought, I chose to emphasize my swords’ aesthetic aspect while deliberately suppressing their function as weapons. This has led me to create swords encased in resin; works that embody beauty over battle.
The name “ARATASHI” (meaning “new”) is taken from the archai Japanese expression for “newness.” It represents discovering new value in something timeless.
May these swords stand as symbols of peace and allow you to feel the quiet beauty inherent in Japanese swords."
-NIPPON GENSHOSHA
