Do you guys remember when shows like planet earth and the discovery channel pumped out interesting documentaries with this level of production quality? I miss those times. Shows just don't feel like this anymore. Thank you for bringing back that feeling veritasium. You guys can't get enough credit.
because corporate hires morons who do nothing but excuses, accountants that reduce costs until there's nothing left, lawyers so they can cheat people and get away with it. All in the name of "Profit".
Hi Veritasium and Derek. I'm a descendant of a Katana blacksmith in Japan. The craft in my family has been continued up to the end of Edo era and no one is a blacksmith anymore, but my family had swords inherited from our ancestors. Thank you very much for your appreciation for the art of sword making in Japan. I enjoyed this video more than any other videos of yours since I found you 9-10 years ago. I've watched every single one of them since then.
Imagine crafting a sword that survives combat and gets passed down dozens of generations of family and is still around in 2024 when it was constructed in the 1600's. Not only that, its still beautiful to behold. Simply masterful.
99 percent of these swords have NEVER seen combat. They would not actually as strong as people give them credit for. Only in the last line of defense would they ever be drawn. Essentially if the warrior was going to die or not and it was the last option. They were prized, but they were still only considered an art piece that was capable of killing rather than the other way around.
Very few swords were ever designed to take direct attacks. The samurai battles with swords lasted only a couple of minutes at the most. They relied on the art of the draw to strike the opponent. Never blade to blade.
What amazes me is that we're now perfectly able to explain in details all of the mechanisms involved along a process that emerged solely from trial and error. Science is amazing.
Now we have thousands types of various steels , supper alloys , the modern drill bit made out if tungsten alloy may easily drill trough the best of Japanese swords. Agree science went a long way .
@@pablo.pereyraYep. And lets say, if you dig throu how this industrial processes were discovered. It was literally like - old dude with a dozen generations of experience and a few kids with mechanical engenering knowlage. And they actually figured this out even before science catched up. Early books on subject may casually reference alchemical works because it was a base understanding.
This stuff is undoubtably cool... But modern day CPM super steels are far superior than this old classic style of making swords.. (CPM is crucible particle metallurgy)
23:38 by bowing that low you showed deep respect for that man, I appreciate you exploring and understanding the culture of Japan, as well as taking the time to understand and enlighten the internet about Japanese craftsman ship, I myself am not Japanese, but have a deep respect and admiration for their culture and it makes me happy to see light being shed on their amazing traditions and country.
@@notzay5573smh Japan gets incredible glazing in the form of perceptions about their countries that don’t even exist. I mean even for the subject of the video, apparently people think that Japanese swords were incredible- sure, they worked, but damn was it way too malleable. Chinese and Korean swords were way more powerful.
You're making way too big a deal of a simple show of respect. Everyone with half a brain knows bow=respect in East Asia. God some people get so weird about Japanese culture, some mfs damn near fetishize it. Like it's cool to appreciate it, I do, but there's really no need to glaze like that.
18:20 slight error here: The combination of Ferrite and Cementite is Pearlite, not Perlite. Perlite is a volcanic glass, mostly made of silicates and used in gardening for its high porosity that helps to aerate the soil and provide microrefugia for microbes.
thank you for this. I knew about perlite from gardening and furnace concrete, and I was very confused when they said that some white volcanic gravel was the same thing these swords were made of.
As a Japanese native, I can’t thank you enough for making a video on this subject. The metallurgy associated is just so fascinating and getting the neat graphics and explanations was awesome. Thanks for spreading the Japanese culture!
@@АВЗ002 I'd say it's quite fortunate that the Japanese have preserved not only their own culture, but China's too, as China itself has forgotten so much.
@user-iy2ps7pg1h I'm not Japanese nor the person you asked the question to. I'll give my response as I've researched this and have some knowledge but am not a blacksmith nor a sword expert. With all that being said, the forging techniques used to create a Tang Dao are very similar to the forging techniques of the Katana and while we can't really confirm that the Katana's forging techniques were taken from Chinese forging techniques, it seems highly likely due to the amount of cultural exchange between the two regions. I would say however, after the steel is layered and then folded, the comparison between the two blades seem more far-fetched. A katana is used as a light weight single-edged sword used for slicing. The Tang Dao is a mostly straight double edged sword with the intention of slicing and stabbing. Saying a single edge sword is a copy of a double edge sword simply because the original material is the same is disingenuous. The video explains that as they cover the Katana with layers of clay, they are doing it not to produce a curved blade, but to harden the blade and soften the spine. This produces a harder blade edge as the carbon is pushed from the spine towards the blade edge. I'm not saying the Katana is "better" than the Tang Dao style of blades, because you're comparing a cross bow with compound bow. They might both be made out of the same material and they both allow the archer to not hold the weight of the draw as they aim, but they are two different bows with two different purposes.
And start developing those qualities at a young age. So you have set a result-producing standard by the time you reach your late teens. It's worth a lot and shapes one's character i think.
Considering the direction in which modern gaming is going, you'll be able to do it in just 1 second soon... because that's how long it takes to do a microtransaction.
i would say, integrity. it's not that they can afford spending a long time (being patient/patience), but they're aware that spending a long time is the right way to do it
He explains the physics so well I even enjoyed the razor ad at the end. The swords were obviously beautiful. The shear dedication, focus, love and genuine respect with which they are crafted inspires me.
And also the price. All this 'artistry' was/is only a method of demonstrating bushi dominance over the 'commoners'. Remember that? "I found that the more work I put into my shoes, the more people wanted them. Fine leather, ornamentation, detailing. And time. Time most of all. Dozens of hours, spent on a single pair. I imagine you've worn a year of someone's life on your back. The highborn liked to cover their feet with my time, and they payed well for the privilege." (although, we should admit they took much more in return, ultimately)
One of my father's favorite pieces of advice is "anything worth doing is worth doing right" and these Japanese artisans take that philosophy to the extreme.
@@FREDDYGN2022and while the Japanese peasantry were building homes with geometrical joints and no nails, the European peasantry were living in grass huts and shiting on their own drinking water.
Peter is such a good producer. Like he keeps getting crazy access to crazy places and then when he's on camera he's just like "it's gonna be great". So humble, but if you know how much work he's doing it's absolutely insane humility.
One of my father's favorite pieces of advice is "anything worth doing is worth doing right" and these Japanese artisans take that philosophy to the extreme.
I've also heard people say "the way you do something is the way you do everything". This Japanese meticulousness and perfectionism pervades their culture everywhere you look. Veritasium posted a video about the blue led just the other day, it's a very good example of that. Once they put their mind to something, doesn't matter how hard it is or how many hours of work it takes... It'll be done
reminds me of Amish furniture. My friend bought an entertainment center to put his tv and stereo system in. The back side of the piece that is never seen since it is up against a wall is just as detailed and well built as the front that gets all the eyes.
There’s only a few things I will never get tired of watching over and over again on TH-cam, and the making of a traditional Japanese Katana is one of them.
@@StopBanningMaStuff Handling molten materials for one. But also managing the cultural significance of the process as an outsider. To be the one to potentially make a mistake in a basically sacred art form would be devastating. If something has a ritualistic value it can be very important to the people performing it and you might not even know how you even ruined it after you already did. Heck I'd just be nervous to swing a katana in front of a master, it'd be like giving a book report with the author in the audience, they'd know everything you got wrong immediately. Peter seemed to do a good job of paying attention, showing gratitufe for being there, and not pretending like he's the star of the show like some TH-camrs might. With Japan basically having an issue with overseas content harassers it's great to see someone give a good impression of TH-camrs.
Opportunity? Bro paid to be there. It's a standard sword making class that tourists in Japan like to take for easy internet points when they share their pics of the class on social media.
What I find amazing is that they figured this out through experimentation and intuition, without actually needing to understand the chemistry involved.
These swords are literally the physical embodiment of trial and error in a form that cannot be perfected further, and as you said, without understanding the molecular science. Japanese swordsmiths are geniuses.
@@SariahPendragonUhm ... I mean they did the best they could but traditional japanese katana were vastly inferior in terms of the steel it used, over European swords. Let alone modern ones. Saying the smiths of that time were highly skilled and did the best they could is valid. Saying they reached a "form that cannot be perfected further" is assinine. Modern mass-produced steel katanas will beat any traditionally crafted one in terms of performance. (And the "Traditional" needs to be put in quotations too, since the sand used as ore is sifted with electromagnets. Older Katanas have far more impurities than modern "Traditionally" crafted ones)
@@bass-dc9175 Could you share a source or two for the statement "traditional Japanese katana were vastly inferior in terms of the steel it used, over European swords"? Thank you. I did my 20 minute research and in the 3 places I had time too look it turns out the Japanese traditional steel was not at all inferior to European traditional steel.
@@ingerasulffs People did a number of tests, for instance striking the swords with one another. The japanese sword breaks in half, not the European one. Japanese swords are also much thicker and heavier, this is evident when you see that a Katana is used two handed despite having a very short range. It is also sharpened on one side only and not very good at stabbing, which is how you best use a sword in war. The reason for this is that the Japanese smelting process produces lots of low carbon iron and a small amount of high carbon steel. In order to make a useful weapon the smith must forge weld many different pieces together and they are very good at it. Europeans use a single piece of high carbon but springy steel, which makes the blade very tough, and the outer layer is hardened by cementing aka case hardening. The japanese barely used their swords in combat, it was a status symbol so it's battlefield performance didn't really matter.
There are a few things here that require correction or additional information. 1) "They are strong and sharp enough to slice a bullet in half." You can do the same with a $0.5 mass produced, cold stamped butterknife. As Penn and Teller demonstrated. 2) "The method for making these swords has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years" Both the gathering and production of the Ore have been enhanced with modern techniques. From more efficient automated bellows to sifting methods for the collected sand using electromagnets to remove most of the impurities which would be present in purely traditional iron sand. And ofcourse the forging of the sword itself with electric hammers which also result in a way better quality sword, because of the consistency of the strikes. And that is not a bad thing. 3) "They are still considered to be among the best in the world." And this is: Inaccurate. Even in terms of Katana: Modern high-forged, mass-produced spring steel ones, will outperform traditional katana. 4) "One sword has been appraised at 105 million dollars, making it the most expensive sword ever produced" Appraisal price has nothing to do with how expensive a sword should be. That is rather missleading, because if someone were to appraise a sharpened butterknife at 106 million, that would not make it the most expensive sword. Because neither the labor cost nor the materials used justify that price. The reason it is valued that high is because of its representation of historical value, less to do with the sword itself and more the culture around it. 5) "Only steel made in this way (Tatara method) is used in the best japanese swords." Incorrect. As previously mentioned: Modern high-forged, mass-produced spring steel ones, will outperform traditional Tatara katana. They are however still amazing pieces of art, but calling it "the best japanese sword" is missleading. 6) "80% Pure Iron sand is an excelent source material for high quality steel" (Context: Compared to Iron Ore) Only if you, do not refine the Iron Ore further. As soon as you refine both the ore and the sand equally, you get much better Iron than what was produced from traditionally collected Iron Sand. 7) "The edge of these swords is much harder than it is in the west" That is: Accurate. And it offers one of the differentiating advantaged and disadvantages that I would have loved to hear here. Harder Steel is more brittle, but keeps it edge better. Making it exceptional agains cloth and layered soft armors or flesh. It cuts exceptionally well. The tradeoff is: Hard armor can shatter the blade more easily. Which is why as armor technology advanced: The blade became less and less relevant. Piercing weapons dominated. And spring steel is still hard enough to keep an edge exceptionally long, while being way more resistant to damage. _______________________________ To finish this off: This is not meant as a "european swords were better" style comment. The skill required to produce these Katana is amazing, the restrictions they had in terms of material led to techniques which compensated for a lot of it and the swords are indeed pieces of art which deserve admiration. I merely want to pushback against the missguided beliefs of the "Katana-Super-Sword" and the "Near-Perfect-Steel-Making" techniques that is widespread, even in this very comment section. QUOTES: "These swords are literally the physical embodiment of trial and error in a form that cannot be perfected further" "Katanas are just the best overall swords in the world." "It is amazing that they made the best steel to this day using only sand." There is value in keeping tradition, but these beliefs are objectively in error. Remember where you came from and embrace the lessons learned with modern tools. THAT is how you make the best product. Not overglorifying what was merely done out of nessecity.
thank you. i love the artistry of japanese swords, but to think that the same quality isnt done elsewhere in the world is a very limited view of the world.
I do love the Japanese katana, and it is my favourite sword, but yes, I have to agree that there are too many untrue myths surrounding the Katana. No one sword or sword types is the "best", it all depends on the many different elements of the combat environment and the sword user.
Immense gratitude! In a way, a conspirologist might even accuse Veritasium in promoting pseudo-science (remember the self-driving cars advertisement?). - Adûnâi
@@Prtvshno he hasn't, shad is probably the worst historical TH-camr out there, he has given out inaccurate statements regarding Japanese swords and other weapons ignoring criticisms and disregarding corrections, including regarding European weapons not really discussing how many were actually made at the time but rather looking at modern recreations with better metal working. The majority of the historical community don't even like him and even actually historians are not fans. Here are some actual info regarding swords both Japanese and European. Neutron diffraction study on full-shape Japanese sword" The Investigation of Establishing Time of Zuku-Oshi and Kera-Oshi with Data of Iron Image of Buddha Making Age and Old Document "Kokon-Kajibiko" Ancient and historic steel in Japan, India and Europe, a non-invasive comparative study using thermal neutron diffraction, F.Grazzi et al, 2011. The Sword and the Crucible: A History of the Metallurgy of European Swords Up to the 16th Century, A. Williams, 2012 Some Aspects of the Metallurgy and Production of European Armor OCTOBER 18, 2016 Archaeometallurgical Investigation on Historical Sword-Making Techniques in Northern Italy Between the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, G.Tonelli et al, 2022 November 04, 2019 Japanese Swords "Mythbusting" - Part 1 La question du minerai de fer pour la période médiévale (IXe - XVIe siècle) Home-made steel: A week at Manabe Sumihira's zuku-oshi tatara Mineralogical Study of Iron Sand with Different Metallurgical Characteristic to Smelting with Use of Japanese Classic Iron-making Furnace “Tatara” Micromorphology, chemistry, and mineralogy of bog iron ores from Poland SOME THOUGHTS ON UTSURI Posted on 2013/08/22 January 27, 2019 Iron and Steel Technology in Japanese Arms & Armors - Part 3: Bladesmithing Also Gunsen History@gunsen_history. This person has actually made a few responses to him regarding his katanas videos.
"whatever you do, you should do it with deep care, attention to detail and love for the craft. Do that enough times, and you might just make something wonderful" - Veritasium
whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. -Col 3:23-24
And what did he use it for, chopping a bit of bamboo!! Now what will he do with it? Spend years training to use it like the Japanese warriors did? Or put it on a stand on his mantlepiece and tell visitors how craftsmen spent days making finely tempered steel sword, with a razor edge ......for them to look at!!! 🙄
@@harimonting01 Wordavee1 is just bitter and jealous. They are (together with his kind) the exact example of a human being created out of HATE. They don't deserve to live in a world of Appreciation and Art. It has never been their vocabulary. Never. They know nothing about Japanese Cultural ancestry so they tend to comment on their assumptions and blatant claims even falsified because they are ignorant about the culture and neither do they know about the unique and admirable dedication of the people who produce such traditions.
These swords are incredibly cool and worth every dollar, but just so you know, a cutting device doesn’t have to be all that exceptional to split a bullet without itself being destroyed. You can do it pretty consistently with a run of the mill axe from the hardware store.
@@cesarkopp2 I bet a machete would make the job easier. I was just referring to in battōdo and iaidō, it takes a lot of training and practice before you actually get to cut a real mat, and most beginners either are unable to completely cut through the mat or even if they cut through, the sliced edge is curved and there are split ends of the tatami everywhere. It is hard to slice a tatami mat with a katana in such a way that it results with the sliced pieces to look like it was digitally sliced in a 3d modeling software. (I assume professionals can do even more impressive cuts at a much more slanted angle, his cuts were mostly perpendicular to the mat's side by an angle nearing 90 degrees which in theory is easier but still is impressive nonetheless)
23:38 I love that because he bowed much lower than him, he felt compelled to bow a second time. You bow at different levels depending on how respectful you're being and the context, so him doing a 90° bow was probably very unexpected. You can''t not feel bad if someone bows 90° while you didn't 😭
When you consider the state of modern metallurgy, it's mind-boggling thinking of how we got here. You think of all the different elements, different combination of elements, and different concentrations of each element which can be added to make a steel alloy. The different heat treating processes which can be applied to it. And you come up with a staggeringly ginormous number of possible different combinations, each with its own slightly different properties. Countless smiths over millennia tried out different combinations, noted its strengths and weaknesses, and passed that knowledge down to their apprentices, which was eventually collated into textbooks and catalogs of common knowledge. What we know about alloying today is the cumulative total of countless lifetimes of experience spanning thousands of years.
This stuff is undoubtably cool... But modern day CPM super steels are far superior than this old classic style of making swords.. (CPM is crucible particle metallurgy)
As an amateur American blacksmith, I truly appreciate you making this video. The history and techniques of Japanese sword making is fascinating and should be understood by anyone that wants to learn blacksmithing. Thanks again! Great video!
The attention to detail in every step of making these swords is beyond words. Not only are they a thing of beauty, but the skill behind them makes them even more impressive.
As a Japanese native, I can’t thank you enough for making a video on this subject. The metallurgy associated is just so fascinating and getting the neat graphics and explanations was awesome. Thanks for spreading the Japanese culture!
I've seen a program on NHK that showed this guy in Japan who makes this crazy white charcoal from like whole branches he stacks in a kiln before he lights the fire when they come out they make that metallic "clang" when they're knocked together
How do you feel about them using modern techniques like the electric hammer? as a lay person, im a little disappointed they werent still using originals methods.
@@rangleski3695not the original commenter but I think as how blacksmiths are more rarer than what is used to be in Japan, I imagined getting apprentices to help hammering would be also a rare occurrence. That’s my theory anyways but I feel the same way with you that I wish it was kept as the traditional ways but I understand to a certain point.
@@rangleski3695 IHMO the eHammer is basically like Ai tools (sans GenAi) or even modern farm tools. It's only a tool so much it reduces the effort needed to get to the final product...
@@rangleski3695so as a smith, you shouldn’t be. First, the only way things could be done by hand like that is through the use of apprentices which no longer exist like that or through a mechanical hammer. So in Europe, there were several power hammers powered by running water. You could think that the modern electric power hammer as an evolution of that and that it really is an “original” method as it’s just a more advanced version of ancient tech
@@PrograErrorwhich is honestly not fair nor true. Things like Damascus could never be made by a one man team which the modern blacksmith is. We lack free or essentially free labor in the form of apprentices to do lots of metal moving. This makes several things impossible as we would lose too much material in the process
This video is (and will remain) good for the ‘crafting of my level of attention’. And I will watch it again, presumably every now and then for years. Extremely cool stuff!!!
I'm a PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering and I wanted to say thank you for this video. A lot of your work goes into the materials science behind things (the semiconductor/ blue LED video was a great materials science video too) but this went into depth on something similar to the project I work on. It's difficult to describe what I do in grad school to people, so this video is perfect.
@@rodidoesburg4061 If by building engineering you are asking about more structural engineering/ architectural engineering this is a little different. Materials science and engineering is more of an atomistic approach for how a material behaves. So when a material scientist talks about structure, they are usually referring to the crystal structure (how the atoms arrange next to one another, to build a larger crystal) This is different from building engineering, or at least what I believe you are referring to, where structure means bulk properties like strength, ductility, etc. materials science figures out why a material has a certain strength or ductility based on how it was produced, where building engineering just applies the bulk properties to engineering problems like what steel to use to reinforce a building. Long winded but let me know if that answered your question!
@@cayman7806 I’m looking at how a new additively manufactured steel that the navy uses to weld their submarines and ship hulls together compares to the actual material they use for the ship hulls when it comes to environmental assisted cracking (seawater+ stress+ not a stainless steel = cracking which leads to failure). The navy wants to try and expedite their submarine production and if they can limit the amount of time needed in heat treatment facilities by printing the parts rather than traditional wrought production, they can make more subs. What did you do for grad school?
@@patrickkirsch1239that’s neat. I worked with the Air Force to develop a benchmark casting process that could be used to develop property process structure maps for novel aerospace alloys. Lots of simulation modeling and lots of melting/pouring metal.
I love how they preserved the rituals involved such as praying. This takes the hardwork and output beyond physical realm, to a spiritual realm. It gives meaning to what they're doing. The level of faith and respect to the elements is astounding. Thank you for showing this to me Veritasium!
This was a wonderful documentary and presentation. I have loved the katana for a long time. I've been into martial arts since age 7 (I'm 41 now). I have learned about blacksmithing, about metal fabrication, geology, chemistry and many other subjects. I was just waiting for a mistake, but you guys did a great job. This was a wonderful look inside. I've always viewed a well-made sword as a work of art, especially these. Those were some absolutely stunning works of art. I'm honored.
These methods make them more expensive due to the labor involved, but far better steel is made everyday industrially. If there were a reason to do so, a modern sword could be devised using cutting edge technology that could outperform and outlast any sword ever made in the past. So what you are seeing here is not the making of "ultimate swords", but really amazing pieces of art that carry history in them.
Yeah, this video is pretty misleading. It's also omitting a lot of information about other swords, making the katana seem a lot more unique and advanced than it actually is.
I mean that's the story with almost all specialty made Japanese goods. Could you get something produce in a lab/factory that's technically better? Sure. People pay for the history and culture of it. The same can be said for organic food. Even the debate about AI art will literally come down to "did a human put blood sweat and tears into this?".
Any through tempered spring steel is going to make a superior sword. Shadiversity just did a breakdown on this video, and while painfully long, its really good. It seems veritasium fell victim to a lot of the mysticism surrounding the katana and tamahagane steel.
@@ALittleMessiyah you not wrong that logically makes sense however- being a fine furniture trainee (if we talking about straight functionality of swords ignore me but u mentioned art) there is a certain feel that human crafted objects art- furniture posses that machine made processes really really struggle to replicate if at all.
My point is- is not always bout the history and culture and yes human craftsmanship can and does produce ‘better’ things even if technically they are not perfect.
This was beautiful to watch. I've played so many videogames with "smelting" and "forging" survival crafting - but I've never seen how it was done by hand. This was amazing.
I never tire of watching swords being made by masters. Especially Japanese masters, because of the great care and ceremony involved. Thank you for another viewing.
the quality of this documentary is very good and after knowing about Japanese swords my respect for Japanese swords and craftmanship doubled, thank you for making this amazing documentary 🙏
Well... the air hoses in the foundry. Plus, the hammer at the swordsmith. Both are modern science. The science gives names to the different alloys of steel, and help you understand WHY the product is so good. The trick is knowing what to update, and what to leave as a tradition.
The statement at approx 0:45 that the Japanese made a weapon that was the pinnacle for their style of warfare is incorrect if it refers to Katana since they were NOT primary battlefield weapons. If you want to talk about swords on Japanese battlefields then you need to look at Tachi, O-dachi, and other swords all of which were larger and more robust than katana. Even then, no sword was EVER the primary weapon that Samurai used on battlefields. Swords were always backup weapons or carried for self defense during unarmored “civilian” settings. The battlefield weapons of Samurai were bows/arrows, yari (spears), naginata (comparable to Chinese Guandao or European glaives), and guns. And yes, not only did Samurai use guns, they LOVED their guns once they found out about them from European traders and had bought enough to figure out how to make their own
Makes sense, The 'Tachi' seams closer to that of the european 'Long Sword' in use cases. While the fighting style of 'O-dachi' would fill a same kind of roll as a 'Flamberge'.
The important part of that statement is "The materials they had at hand" The Japanese did not have perfectly clean iron ore to begin with. They also could not make pure steel because the bloomery furnace did not liquify the iron. Only the outer slag/impurities were removed. The slag/impurities on the inside of the iron ore stayed. This is exactly why they folded the steel. It was the best compromise. Can't remove all the impurities, so lets fold the steel so the entire blade is uniformly impure, not perfect in some spots and super impure in other spots. You are not incorrect in what you say. I agree with you. However as a secondary battlefield weapon (not primary like the yari or guns) and based on the materials they had at hand the katana was the best they could make. Also around the 1500's the Japanese used the older Tachi and the newer uchigatana. Uchigatana means strike sword. Around the late 1500's the Tachi went out of fashion and the uchigatana was then just known as Katana. Katana just means sword. There was no longer two different backup weapon swords being used so no need to differentiate them. At that point when everyone is using a striking sword, no need to call it striking sword, so peopel just called it a sword (Katana).
@@dfriedbauer why would one watch Veritasium documentaries and at the same time write comments downplaying the value of well-written comments such as OP's, which provide corrections and extra info to everybody interested in it?
@@the8thark You believe the false rumors about Japan that the Chinese and Koreans are spreading. Iron ore has far more impurities than iron sand. So if impurities are a problem, as you say, then before modern furnaces were invented, iron products made from iron ore were of lower quality than iron products made from iron sand. .
I remember as a kid I had access to some educational DVDs produced by NHK. All the videos were live demos of physics and chemistry experiments. One of the experiments talking about redox was this kind of iron smelting procedure. It wasn't as high-tier like this one and the "kiln" was just a tower of cinder blocks. This videos just brought back my memories watching those quality contents.
When you were partying, I studied the blade. While you indulged in the latest binge-watch, I mastered the ancient techniques of sword-forging. As you scrolled endlessly, seeking validation through likes and follows, I cultivated patience and precision in the heat of the forge. Now, as the world marvels at the artistry of the Japanese sword, and collectors clamor for a piece of history, you have the audacity to ask me to share the secrets of the katana. Remember, while you chased fleeting pleasures, I embraced the discipline of the blade.
When you were partying, I studied the blade. While you indulged in the latest binge-watch, I mastered the ancient techniques of sword-forging. As you scrolled endlessly, seeking validation through likes and follows, I cultivated patience and precision in the heat of the forge. Now, as the world marvels at the artistry of the Japanese sword, and collectors clamor for a piece of history, you have the audacity to ask me to share the secrets of the katana. Remember, while you chased fleeting pleasures, I embraced the discipline of the blade.
Ive been into japanese swords for ages now...and ive seen quite a number of western versions of them being forged on youtube, however i never knew its the quenching that gave them the traditional curve and not merely forging them into that shape... awesome piece guys..
It never fails to amaze me. The reverence that is applied to every aspect of the process involved in the making of these weapons. I'm sure that, in some warriors minds, losing one's life to such a spiritual creation, would be considered an honour. Arigato.
I really enjoyed this episode, I think what made it enjoyable was seeing Petr's enjoyment and passion. He was able to participate in something many people would enjoy to do once in their lives.
As a civil engineering student, your animations, live-steel production, and the well explained processes have taught me far more about the creation and forging of steel than the boring, crappy powerpoints shown at my uni.
Experiencing all of this through Peters eyes is such a cool addition. The facts are interesting, but all the emotions gave it another dimention. I love it!
It did but im noticing a trend of more videos with new People in the focus which kind of makes me worry if maybe derek is planning on leaving the channel
Absolutely fascinating video! As someone with a background in Physics and Material Science, I found the process of making katana swords incredibly intriguing. The blend of traditional techniques and advanced material science truly showcases the art and science behind these remarkable weapons. The meticulous process of folding and forging the steel not only results in a blade of exceptional sharpness and durability but also creates a beautiful pattern that makes each katana unique. This video is a great reminder of how deep understanding of materials can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Thanks for sharing such educational content!
The folding is not only not a unique process to Japan but it is also only done to remove the impurities of their lower quality metal. It doesn’t make the blade superior, it just makes not terrible lol.
@@LouisKing995 Doesn't even remove the impurities, just homogenizes the metal for the blade so the impure (weak) areas aren't concentrated and the higher quality steel is spread throughout as well. Still garbage steel, just makes it usable.
@@Nyx_2142that would be wrong. It has been shown that if you fold it enough you can remove all impurities. Unfortunately that happens way after 8 to 12 folds
As always Japan's culture is blended with artistry. An artistic video on the art of crafting a katana was well justified. Loved every moment of this. Would love more of this type of content.
This is great. Just pure education. Real voices and not bots, n sound effects that belong on childrens cartoons, Brilliant. Thanks very much for an excellent education
I've seen numerous documentaries on Japanese swordsmithing. I could watch a thousand more. So glad one of my favorite science channels decided to tackle the subject.
Perhaps too much story and not enough fact these days. Video is full of myth and misinformation regarding the katana. Every time I think of trying to get back into his videos, he puts out drivel like this. Guess that's to be expected from a dude with a degree that basically doesn't actually exist and he rarely has qualifications in anything he speaks about.
Japanese culture and history is so incredibly interesting and fascinating to me! The people, the environment, the history and traditions…completely unique and special. It’s just beautiful.
It’s really not that special in regards to sword-making . But American Weabos have massively inflated the significance of the Katana, and orientalised it when comparing with European swords. They even did “cutting a bullet” test which is so pointless.
Wonderful documentary on the Japanese Sword the most beautiful piece of art and craftsmanship on the planet imo. Thank you so much, I was entertained but more than that profoundly informed.
While high-quality Japanese katanas are works of art, I would say their high value in price and popularity has a lot to do with pop culture, there are so many movies and TV shows that portray Japanese blades as these legendary cutting weapons second to none, that's why its collectors value is so high. From a purely functional perspective, spring steel and Damascus steel blades outperform Japanese swordsmith methods overall and aesthetics are really in the eyes of the beholder.
@@unixtreme it holds the same mythos in Japan; many of the soldiers left jobless after the unification war concluded, and so became poets. They spent their time writing legends of the katana in a way the west never truly saw for our blades, and so the legend was born
i wouldnt say that. while the katanas influence in the west tzhrough popculture was huge, especially in the 80s, most people will never buy a nihonto, they much rather have a reproduction of the highlander sword or whatever. most nihonto collectors are japanese and while it might be true that the most expensive blade was valued at 105 million, the most expensive that was actually sold is 400k and the average is not really that different from historical european swords. you can get an antique nihonto for just about 1k, a newly forged one is gonna be about 8k and upwards. its not unreasonably expensive
Except Damascus is also extremely overrated due to pop culture. It's pretty looking, but not inherently better than high quality monosteel. In fact damascus is much weaker than monosteel if it is not perfectly forge welded together. A single delamination or inclusion will ruin a blade. The only real difference between damascus and monosteel is that damascus has different amounts of nickel and/or chromium in the different layers to show a pattern when acid etched. The most important factors for good steel are the alloy, heat treatment, and the resulting crystal structure. You can create softer (or tougher) areas and harder areas in the same piece of monosteel if you heat treat it properly.
@@MovieFactory I'm not sure if you have factored in the influence of otaku and weeb culture, which are some of the biggest global cultural influences for the past 2 decades and still going strong. While this is anecdotal, I know quite a number of regular people who bought expensive katanas but none that have bought European weapons unless they did HEMA.
The crystal structure animations in this were awesome and I've shared this to a bunch of smiths who I've struggled to get the idea across to. Brilliant work, and a great watch.
I went into this video thinking "oh man is this going to be another video portraying Japanese swords as some sort of mythical objects" and it didn't disappoint.
Many people think, katanas are by far the best sword in the world. Of course katanas belong to the best swords, but they weren't clearly better than the european swords. If a european sword and a katana hit each other the katana will rather get destroyed.
Always been fascinated by these swords, then I became a weld inspector and learned metallurgy, gave me a whole new appreciation, this video did a great job explaining, awesome work!
Small correction. By folding the steel you will actually lose a lot of steel due to slag and pieces flying off, the more layers the more material loss will happen. Alec Steele on youtube who specialises in modern damascus talked about this in one of his videos
Which is probably why it's only folded 8 to 13 times. 35 years ago, I watched something that talked about them being folded 1,000 times +, they must have not understood how the layers form
@@Woodability Technically you can easily get 1,000+ layers formed in pattern welding (not really what is being done here, really, due to the construction of the blade itself) by starting off with like 20 thin layers and folding it only it several times. The layer count expands exponentially. Larrin Thomas, the inventor of MagnaCut, actually has a YT channel called "Knife Steel Nerds" where he not-so-long ago tested damascus steel with alternating layer counts. (It helps that his father, Devin Thomas, is a master smith and has been making damascus knives for decades.). Including 25, 125, 625 and 3,125 layers. You couldn't even really make out the layers in the 3,125 layer one. You could definitely tell it was pattern welded, but individual layers no longer existed.
I'll just say that the way of cooling swords with clay to get a harder edge for me was a mind-blowing solution. The person who discovered it must've been a genius.👏
I was today years old when I learned that the bamboo stalks/poles?/totems? used to test and train a swordsman are actually real and not just something in Zelda. 😂 1:27
"Whatever you do, you should do it deep care, with attention to detail, and love for the craft." That explains why so many under paid karoshi happen to be found in the animation studios.
There is a very old documentary from french-german arte tv channel about the production of japanese swords (and some stories regarding them). It's nice to see, that this tradition of traditional steel production and sword making is still alive 20 years later, although with somewhat more modern tools and approaches. The tv team was very lucky back then to see a real master piece being forged by Sadatoshi Gassan. Thanks for this production!
Such an honour and privilege to be invited to participate and film in this tradition sword making process. A big Thank You to the Japanese for so generously sharing their traditions and a big thank you to the filming and production team for doing a good job. Really appreciate you all ❤
Do you guys remember when shows like planet earth and the discovery channel pumped out interesting documentaries with this level of production quality? I miss those times. Shows just don't feel like this anymore.
Thank you for bringing back that feeling veritasium. You guys can't get enough credit.
man, when discovery channel dropped in the mid 90s, it was insane the level of production, the knowledge, the narration.
(((they))) want you to be stupid. Stupid pays 90% of their work as tax that .. Honestly I got no idea where it all goes. But this ain't no 'spiracy.
Imagine if they had TV channel level budgets and power
Because they went for low hanging fruit, resulting in the likes of Ancient Aliens.
because corporate hires morons who do nothing but excuses, accountants that reduce costs until there's nothing left, lawyers so they can cheat people and get away with it. All in the name of "Profit".
Hi Veritasium and Derek. I'm a descendant of a Katana blacksmith in Japan. The craft in my family has been continued up to the end of Edo era and no one is a blacksmith anymore, but my family had swords inherited from our ancestors. Thank you very much for your appreciation for the art of sword making in Japan. I enjoyed this video more than any other videos of yours since I found you 9-10 years ago. I've watched every single one of them since then.
Can I have one and can you teach me how to make a sword!!!
@@GluStiKkhe literally just said they are not blacksmiths but their ancestors were :p
@@Aneliuse i want a new sword bro wtf😡😡😡😡
@@GluStiKk just make your own sword from a cardboard box. We call that the poor mans katana.
@@GluStiKk you're not the main character.
man open youtube, man see sword, man happy
real
Nice pfp btw
Man read comment, man upvote
Literally me
Man watch Shōgun, see Katana video, man click
Imagine crafting a sword that survives combat and gets passed down dozens of generations of family and is still around in 2024 when it was constructed in the 1600's. Not only that, its still beautiful to behold. Simply masterful.
I have one from the 1100s and its still in its original, perfect form. They're truly amazing!
Spanish swords
99 percent of these swords have NEVER seen combat. They would not actually as strong as people give them credit for. Only in the last line of defense would they ever be drawn. Essentially if the warrior was going to die or not and it was the last option. They were prized, but they were still only considered an art piece that was capable of killing rather than the other way around.
Very few swords were ever designed to take direct attacks.
The samurai battles with swords lasted only a couple of minutes at the most.
They relied on the art of the draw to strike the opponent. Never blade to blade.
What amazes me is that we're now perfectly able to explain in details all of the mechanisms involved along a process that emerged solely from trial and error. Science is amazing.
And we can produce better quality steel in less time and more quantity.
This ^^^ Love that science explains the why part
Now we have thousands types of various steels , supper alloys , the modern drill bit made out if tungsten alloy may easily drill trough the best of Japanese swords.
Agree science went a long way .
Insane people were able to figure everything out like that before science
@@pablo.pereyraYep. And lets say, if you dig throu how this industrial processes were discovered. It was literally like - old dude with a dozen generations of experience and a few kids with mechanical engenering knowlage. And they actually figured this out even before science catched up. Early books on subject may casually reference alchemical works because it was a base understanding.
finally a video that's just about material science so a dumbass mechanical engineer like me can understand it lmao
Bsme gang let’s goooo
Hey Google
Same here, the math stuff just goes over my head.
This stuff is undoubtably cool...
But modern day CPM super steels are far superior than this old classic style of making swords.. (CPM is crucible particle metallurgy)
you like phase diagrams?
23:38
by bowing that low you showed deep respect for that man, I appreciate you exploring and understanding the culture of Japan, as well as taking the time to understand and enlighten the internet about Japanese craftsman ship, I myself am not Japanese, but have a deep respect and admiration for their culture and it makes me happy to see light being shed on their amazing traditions and country.
So you watched too much anime?
ask the people of china how amazing there country is lol.(a joke about unit 731)
@@notzay5573smh Japan gets incredible glazing in the form of perceptions about their countries that don’t even exist. I mean even for the subject of the video, apparently people think that Japanese swords were incredible- sure, they worked, but damn was it way too malleable. Chinese and Korean swords were way more powerful.
@@KaiserTwo
internet when
thing in other countries : -_-
same thing BUT in Japan: 0_0!!
You're making way too big a deal of a simple show of respect. Everyone with half a brain knows bow=respect in East Asia. God some people get so weird about Japanese culture, some mfs damn near fetishize it. Like it's cool to appreciate it, I do, but there's really no need to glaze like that.
18:20 slight error here: The combination of Ferrite and Cementite is Pearlite, not Perlite. Perlite is a volcanic glass, mostly made of silicates and used in gardening for its high porosity that helps to aerate the soil and provide microrefugia for microbes.
** deep inhale**
NNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRDDD
Just messing with ya. Knowledge of such things is cool.
The spines usually also don't have enough carbon to form a pure pearlite structure, rather a ferrite-pearlite structure.
It’s “Leviohsa” not “leviosa”
Wowzers
thank you for this. I knew about perlite from gardening and furnace concrete, and I was very confused when they said that some white volcanic gravel was the same thing these swords were made of.
As a Japanese native, I can’t thank you enough for making a video on this subject. The metallurgy associated is just so fascinating and getting the neat graphics and explanations was awesome. Thanks for spreading the Japanese culture!
As a ninja I'm not so happy. But for real, is there still a proffesion as black Smith these days in Japan? (I'm from europe)
How do you feel about the fact that the katana was copied from the Chinese tangdao sword with minimal changes?
@@АВЗ002 I'd say it's quite fortunate that the Japanese have preserved not only their own culture, but China's too, as China itself has forgotten so much.
We thank your culture for this and other utterly amazing accomplishments. 🙏
@user-iy2ps7pg1h I'm not Japanese nor the person you asked the question to. I'll give my response as I've researched this and have some knowledge but am not a blacksmith nor a sword expert. With all that being said, the forging techniques used to create a Tang Dao are very similar to the forging techniques of the Katana and while we can't really confirm that the Katana's forging techniques were taken from Chinese forging techniques, it seems highly likely due to the amount of cultural exchange between the two regions. I would say however, after the steel is layered and then folded, the comparison between the two blades seem more far-fetched. A katana is used as a light weight single-edged sword used for slicing. The Tang Dao is a mostly straight double edged sword with the intention of slicing and stabbing. Saying a single edge sword is a copy of a double edge sword simply because the original material is the same is disingenuous. The video explains that as they cover the Katana with layers of clay, they are doing it not to produce a curved blade, but to harden the blade and soften the spine. This produces a harder blade edge as the carbon is pushed from the spine towards the blade edge. I'm not saying the Katana is "better" than the Tang Dao style of blades, because you're comparing a cross bow with compound bow. They might both be made out of the same material and they both allow the archer to not hold the weight of the draw as they aim, but they are two different bows with two different purposes.
I thought it would be a random video of forging a sword, but bro taught us whole chemistry, geology, and history behind it
He delivers! Awesome documentary !
@XYZ-lm7tp there are youtube videos, and then there are Veritasium youtube videos
Lol
This is a great pique for introducing chemistry 😊for students
Too bad it's all wrong
The exact video I wanted! So neat. Thank you 🙏
"Whatever you do you should do it with deep care, attention to detail, and love for the craft" So true.
And start developing those qualities at a young age. So you have set a result-producing standard by the time you reach your late teens. It's worth a lot and shapes one's character i think.
A Yogi did say a few years ago, be fully involved in what ever the hell you do. Something profoundly beautiful may come out of it. So true!
The original saying is: "Whatever you do, do it with excellence."
That is exactly how I feel about my heroine addiction.
That's Japan in a Nutshell
meanwhile i can craft a steel dagger in skyrim in 4 seconds. we've come so far
Indeed. And if the old commercials are true, when the PlayStation 9 lands, you'll be able to do it by thought alone!
Considering the direction in which modern gaming is going, you'll be able to do it in just 1 second soon... because that's how long it takes to do a microtransaction.
Ah yes 14 damage don't think you'll cut through the carpet tho with that 😂
it’s the guy who thirst traps with fish omg!! hi can i have one of ur gfs
Yo so true!
Japanese craftsmanship can be defined by one word: patience.
i would say, integrity. it's not that they can afford spending a long time (being patient/patience), but they're aware that spending a long time is the right way to do it
@@agps4418 also a good word for it.
@@agps4418oath like they’ve really thought about every possible variation they could make to perfect the swords
The one word is PIP: Perseverance - Integrity - Patience 😊
Yup also have you seen how they do paper work same thing everything has to be perfect, one mistake you need to start over.
He explains the physics so well I even enjoyed the razor ad at the end.
The swords were obviously beautiful. The shear dedication, focus, love and genuine respect with which they are crafted inspires me.
And also the price. All this 'artistry' was/is only a method of demonstrating bushi dominance over the 'commoners'.
Remember that?
"I found that the more work I put into my shoes, the more people wanted them. Fine leather, ornamentation, detailing. And time. Time most of all. Dozens of hours, spent on a single pair. I imagine you've worn a year of someone's life on your back. The highborn liked to cover their feet with my time, and they payed well for the privilege." (although, we should admit they took much more in return, ultimately)
@@ВасяКирьянов-г3ж That is an interesting perspective. Thank you for sharing your opinion.
sheer
One of my father's favorite pieces of advice is "anything worth doing is worth doing right" and these Japanese artisans take that philosophy to the extreme.
In the rest of the world, anything worth doing is profitable...sadly
Your father must be a smart man
Copied comment
And yet Japanese couldnt smelt a homogeneous block of steel when the rest if the world could.
@@FREDDYGN2022and while the Japanese peasantry were building homes with geometrical joints and no nails, the European peasantry were living in grass huts and shiting on their own drinking water.
Peter is such a good producer. Like he keeps getting crazy access to crazy places and then when he's on camera he's just like "it's gonna be great". So humble, but if you know how much work he's doing it's absolutely insane humility.
Bro he learned basic Japanese for this that's insane.
Katana means Japanese sword
You know I'm screenshotting this comment to send to Derek right? -- Petr
@@veritasiumToo late, I already did. - me
Get that raise boy @@veritasium
One of my father's favorite pieces of advice is "anything worth doing is worth doing right" and these Japanese artisans take that philosophy to the extreme.
"Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing." - Ron Swanson
I've also heard people say "the way you do something is the way you do everything". This Japanese meticulousness and perfectionism pervades their culture everywhere you look. Veritasium posted a video about the blue led just the other day, it's a very good example of that. Once they put their mind to something, doesn't matter how hard it is or how many hours of work it takes... It'll be done
reminds me of Amish furniture. My friend bought an entertainment center to put his tv and stereo system in. The back side of the piece that is never seen since it is up against a wall is just as detailed and well built as the front that gets all the eyes.
Now if only they knew what they were doing. Spring steel is far superior.
Explains Toyota's jidoka and kaizen principles.
There’s only a few things I will never get tired of watching over and over again on TH-cam, and the making of a traditional Japanese Katana is one of them.
Props to Peter, this must've been intimidating at times and he did a great job being respectful and appreciative of the opportunity.
In what world is this intimidating....
@@StopBanningMaStuff Handling molten materials for one. But also managing the cultural significance of the process as an outsider. To be the one to potentially make a mistake in a basically sacred art form would be devastating. If something has a ritualistic value it can be very important to the people performing it and you might not even know how you even ruined it after you already did. Heck I'd just be nervous to swing a katana in front of a master, it'd be like giving a book report with the author in the audience, they'd know everything you got wrong immediately.
Peter seemed to do a good job of paying attention, showing gratitufe for being there, and not pretending like he's the star of the show like some TH-camrs might. With Japan basically having an issue with overseas content harassers it's great to see someone give a good impression of TH-camrs.
@@StopBanningMaStuffnot in a literal sense 🤦🏻♂️
Opportunity? Bro paid to be there. It's a standard sword making class that tourists in Japan like to take for easy internet points when they share their pics of the class on social media.
@@ThwipThwipBoom Really, which one? I want to do it. I'm hoping to plan a trip to Japan, sounds like a great time.
What I find amazing is that they figured this out through experimentation and intuition, without actually needing to understand the chemistry involved.
These swords are literally the physical embodiment of trial and error in a form that cannot be perfected further, and as you said, without understanding the molecular science.
Japanese swordsmiths are geniuses.
@@SariahPendragonUhm ... I mean they did the best they could but traditional japanese katana were vastly inferior in terms of the steel it used, over European swords. Let alone modern ones.
Saying the smiths of that time were highly skilled and did the best they could is valid. Saying they reached a "form that cannot be perfected further" is assinine. Modern mass-produced steel katanas will beat any traditionally crafted one in terms of performance. (And the "Traditional" needs to be put in quotations too, since the sand used as ore is sifted with electromagnets. Older Katanas have far more impurities than modern "Traditionally" crafted ones)
@@bass-dc9175 Could you share a source or two for the statement "traditional Japanese katana were vastly inferior in terms of the steel it used, over European swords"? Thank you.
I did my 20 minute research and in the 3 places I had time too look it turns out the Japanese traditional steel was not at all inferior to European traditional steel.
@@ingerasulffs People did a number of tests, for instance striking the swords with one another. The japanese sword breaks in half, not the European one.
Japanese swords are also much thicker and heavier, this is evident when you see that a Katana is used two handed despite having a very short range. It is also sharpened on one side only and not very good at stabbing, which is how you best use a sword in war.
The reason for this is that the Japanese smelting process produces lots of low carbon iron and a small amount of high carbon steel. In order to make a useful weapon the smith must forge weld many different pieces together and they are very good at it. Europeans use a single piece of high carbon but springy steel, which makes the blade very tough, and the outer layer is hardened by cementing aka case hardening.
The japanese barely used their swords in combat, it was a status symbol so it's battlefield performance didn't really matter.
@@iotaje1BS...google is free bro.
There are a few things here that require correction or additional information.
1) "They are strong and sharp enough to slice a bullet in half."
You can do the same with a $0.5 mass produced, cold stamped butterknife. As Penn and Teller demonstrated.
2) "The method for making these swords has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years"
Both the gathering and production of the Ore have been enhanced with modern techniques. From more efficient automated bellows to sifting methods for the collected sand using electromagnets to remove most of the impurities which would be present in purely traditional iron sand. And ofcourse the forging of the sword itself with electric hammers which also result in a way better quality sword, because of the consistency of the strikes.
And that is not a bad thing.
3) "They are still considered to be among the best in the world."
And this is: Inaccurate. Even in terms of Katana: Modern high-forged, mass-produced spring steel ones, will outperform traditional katana.
4) "One sword has been appraised at 105 million dollars, making it the most expensive sword ever produced"
Appraisal price has nothing to do with how expensive a sword should be. That is rather missleading, because if someone were to appraise a sharpened butterknife at 106 million, that would not make it the most expensive sword. Because neither the labor cost nor the materials used justify that price.
The reason it is valued that high is because of its representation of historical value, less to do with the sword itself and more the culture around it.
5) "Only steel made in this way (Tatara method) is used in the best japanese swords."
Incorrect. As previously mentioned: Modern high-forged, mass-produced spring steel ones, will outperform traditional Tatara katana.
They are however still amazing pieces of art, but calling it "the best japanese sword" is missleading.
6) "80% Pure Iron sand is an excelent source material for high quality steel" (Context: Compared to Iron Ore)
Only if you, do not refine the Iron Ore further.
As soon as you refine both the ore and the sand equally, you get much better Iron than what was produced from traditionally collected Iron Sand.
7) "The edge of these swords is much harder than it is in the west"
That is: Accurate. And it offers one of the differentiating advantaged and disadvantages that I would have loved to hear here.
Harder Steel is more brittle, but keeps it edge better. Making it exceptional agains cloth and layered soft armors or flesh. It cuts exceptionally well.
The tradeoff is: Hard armor can shatter the blade more easily. Which is why as armor technology advanced: The blade became less and less relevant. Piercing weapons dominated. And spring steel is still hard enough to keep an edge exceptionally long, while being way more resistant to damage.
_______________________________
To finish this off: This is not meant as a "european swords were better" style comment. The skill required to produce these Katana is amazing, the restrictions they had in terms of material led to techniques which compensated for a lot of it and the swords are indeed pieces of art which deserve admiration.
I merely want to pushback against the missguided beliefs of the "Katana-Super-Sword" and the "Near-Perfect-Steel-Making" techniques that is widespread, even in this very comment section.
QUOTES:
"These swords are literally the physical embodiment of trial and error in a form that cannot be perfected further"
"Katanas are just the best overall swords in the world."
"It is amazing that they made the best steel to this day using only sand."
There is value in keeping tradition, but these beliefs are objectively in error.
Remember where you came from and embrace the lessons learned with modern tools. THAT is how you make the best product. Not overglorifying what was merely done out of nessecity.
thank you. i love the artistry of japanese swords, but to think that the same quality isnt done elsewhere in the world is a very limited view of the world.
@@roromad9603 Shad made alredy pretty good sumarisation of all mentioned "misinformations"
I do love the Japanese katana, and it is my favourite sword, but yes, I have to agree that there are too many untrue myths surrounding the Katana. No one sword or sword types is the "best", it all depends on the many different elements of the combat environment and the sword user.
Immense gratitude! In a way, a conspirologist might even accuse Veritasium in promoting pseudo-science (remember the self-driving cars advertisement?).
- Adûnâi
@@Prtvshno he hasn't, shad is probably the worst historical TH-camr out there, he has given out inaccurate statements regarding Japanese swords and other weapons ignoring criticisms and disregarding corrections, including regarding European weapons not really discussing how many were actually made at the time but rather looking at modern recreations with better metal working. The majority of the historical community don't even like him and even actually historians are not fans.
Here are some actual info regarding swords both Japanese and European.
Neutron diffraction study on full-shape Japanese sword"
The Investigation of Establishing Time of Zuku-Oshi and Kera-Oshi with Data of Iron Image of Buddha Making Age and Old Document "Kokon-Kajibiko"
Ancient and historic steel in Japan, India and Europe, a non-invasive comparative study using thermal neutron diffraction, F.Grazzi et al, 2011.
The Sword and the Crucible: A History of the Metallurgy of European Swords Up to the 16th Century, A. Williams, 2012
Some Aspects of the Metallurgy and Production of European Armor OCTOBER 18, 2016
Archaeometallurgical Investigation on Historical Sword-Making Techniques in Northern Italy Between the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, G.Tonelli et al, 2022
November 04, 2019 Japanese Swords "Mythbusting" - Part 1
La question du minerai de fer pour la période médiévale (IXe - XVIe siècle)
Home-made steel: A week at Manabe Sumihira's zuku-oshi tatara
Mineralogical Study of Iron Sand with Different Metallurgical Characteristic to Smelting with Use of Japanese Classic Iron-making Furnace “Tatara”
Micromorphology, chemistry, and mineralogy of bog iron ores from Poland
SOME THOUGHTS ON UTSURI
Posted on 2013/08/22
January 27, 2019
Iron and Steel Technology in Japanese Arms & Armors - Part 3: Bladesmithing
Also Gunsen History@gunsen_history.
This person has actually made a few responses to him regarding his katanas videos.
Thats why HAGANEZUKA gets mad angry when TANJIRO breaks his sword.
Probably because it was really bad quality
Yeah, but it also took weeks to create, and that’s not taking into account the extra work required for the Nicirin Steel.
For that price it better be brimming with haki.
For that price Ryuma should come to my house and give it to me 😂
and a full training course with mihawk
Bruh
F
???
"whatever you do, you should do it with deep care, attention to detail and love for the craft. Do that enough times, and you might just make something wonderful"
- Veritasium
whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.
-Col 3:23-24
_… __-wonderful-__ beautiful”_
Probably one of his writers tbh. I'm not sure he writes any of his videos anymore.
WTF??? did you even see the previous video with rods of god ?:D:D:D if they would follow what in your comment they would not take such huge L
We often forget the most important part. You will suck hard at it at first, then you'll become average, then maybe you'll become great.
He looked so genuinely happy when he used the sword for the first time. I myself can feel the excitement just by watching.
And what did he use it for, chopping a bit of bamboo!!
Now what will he do with it? Spend years training to use it like the Japanese warriors did?
Or put it on a stand on his mantlepiece and tell visitors how craftsmen spent days making finely tempered steel sword, with a razor edge ......for them to look at!!! 🙄
@@Wordavee1Yes, it's an art. They don't use it to kill people anymore. What do you expect?
@@Wordavee1 Well, yeah at this point it's about the art of making one instead of killing, would you rather they kill each other? Weirdo.
@@harimonting01 Wordavee1 is just bitter and jealous. They are (together with his kind) the exact example of a human being created out of HATE. They don't deserve to live in a world of Appreciation and Art. It has never been their vocabulary. Never. They know nothing about Japanese Cultural ancestry so they tend to comment on their assumptions and blatant claims even falsified because they are ignorant about the culture and neither do they know about the unique and admirable dedication of the people who produce such traditions.
As somebody who's written an essay involving Japanese determination. This just further proves my point, and it makes me appreciate it all even more
These swords are incredibly cool and worth every dollar, but just so you know, a cutting device doesn’t have to be all that exceptional to split a bullet without itself being destroyed. You can do it pretty consistently with a run of the mill axe from the hardware store.
Man, you're on point. It is such a bad argument to show something so cool as swordsmithing.
You can do it with a butter knife.
I've seen someone do it with a butter knife. Not impressive at all.
謎理論
Yeah bullets aren't the hardest materials
those slices were unbelievably clean, people don't know how difficult it actually is to slice a mat so cleanly
I recently discover a well-done sharp machete can do better than most swords, in circumstances where do you need to cut things.
@@cesarkopp2 I bet a machete would make the job easier. I was just referring to in battōdo and iaidō, it takes a lot of training and practice before you actually get to cut a real mat, and most beginners either are unable to completely cut through the mat or even if they cut through, the sliced edge is curved and there are split ends of the tatami everywhere. It is hard to slice a tatami mat with a katana in such a way that it results with the sliced pieces to look like it was digitally sliced in a 3d modeling software.
(I assume professionals can do even more impressive cuts at a much more slanted angle, his cuts were mostly perpendicular to the mat's side by an angle nearing 90 degrees which in theory is easier but still is impressive nonetheless)
@@_Mukuchi why is that? what is the technique and why is it difficult without it?
@@cesarkopp2qqQ
Oh, yes I do! Experience is a bitter teacher.
23:38 I love that because he bowed much lower than him, he felt compelled to bow a second time. You bow at different levels depending on how respectful you're being and the context, so him doing a 90° bow was probably very unexpected. You can''t not feel bad if someone bows 90° while you didn't 😭
I guess you can't tell how low the other person has bowed until you coming back up! 🤭
@@ahobimo732 you don't need to look, you should generally know how low to bow based on the social situation you are in
I noticed this too, I was really shocked at how low he went it almost felt like he was apologizing 😂
@@ahobimo732thats deep
How about a 180 degree bow huh?
One quality of living beings i see here. It is called respect. Im very proud of all of you 🤗🥰
As a metallurgist, I'm still amazed people figured this out over time and laid the groundwork for where we are today.
Wondered how many generations it took to form this whole process from raw materials to perfection.
Were tataras used for all iron and steel production in pre-modern Japan?
When you consider the state of modern metallurgy, it's mind-boggling thinking of how we got here. You think of all the different elements, different combination of elements, and different concentrations of each element which can be added to make a steel alloy. The different heat treating processes which can be applied to it. And you come up with a staggeringly ginormous number of possible different combinations, each with its own slightly different properties. Countless smiths over millennia tried out different combinations, noted its strengths and weaknesses, and passed that knowledge down to their apprentices, which was eventually collated into textbooks and catalogs of common knowledge. What we know about alloying today is the cumulative total of countless lifetimes of experience spanning thousands of years.
This stuff is undoubtably cool...
But modern day CPM super steels are far superior than this old classic style of making swords.. (CPM is crucible particle metallurgy)
@@traplover6357hell even getting the raw materials is impressive, I'd've never thought of that sand trick, props to whoever figured that out
As an amateur American blacksmith, I truly appreciate you making this video.
The history and techniques of Japanese sword making is fascinating and should be understood by anyone that wants to learn blacksmithing.
Thanks again!
Great video!
The attention to detail in every step of making these swords is beyond words. Not only are they a thing of beauty, but the skill behind them makes them even more impressive.
22:55 the swordsmith is actually impressed by mr. producer's cut
As a Japanese native, I can’t thank you enough for making a video on this subject. The metallurgy associated is just so fascinating and getting the neat graphics and explanations was awesome. Thanks for spreading the Japanese culture!
This video is made with care and a lot of effort. However, are you aware of the inaccuracies presented here?
Japan doesn't have culture, it's a province of China, wake up.
I've seen a program on NHK that showed this guy in Japan who makes this crazy white charcoal from like whole branches he stacks in a kiln before he lights the fire when they come out they make that metallic "clang" when they're knocked together
no need to thank...because they didn't tell the truth that the sword making techniques was taught to your people by the Chinese.
@@ginnox2049 prove?
As an aspiring blacksmith, my favorite science TH-camr posting a video about blacksmithing is like Christmas all over again
How do you feel about them using modern techniques like the electric hammer? as a lay person, im a little disappointed they werent still using originals methods.
@@rangleski3695not the original commenter but I think as how blacksmiths are more rarer than what is used to be in Japan, I imagined getting apprentices to help hammering would be also a rare occurrence. That’s my theory anyways but I feel the same way with you that I wish it was kept as the traditional ways but I understand to a certain point.
@@rangleski3695 IHMO the eHammer is basically like Ai tools (sans GenAi) or even modern farm tools. It's only a tool so much it reduces the effort needed to get to the final product...
@@rangleski3695so as a smith, you shouldn’t be. First, the only way things could be done by hand like that is through the use of apprentices which no longer exist like that or through a mechanical hammer. So in Europe, there were several power hammers powered by running water. You could think that the modern electric power hammer as an evolution of that and that it really is an “original” method as it’s just a more advanced version of ancient tech
@@PrograErrorwhich is honestly not fair nor true. Things like Damascus could never be made by a one man team which the modern blacksmith is. We lack free or essentially free labor in the form of apprentices to do lots of metal moving. This makes several things impossible as we would lose too much material in the process
This video is (and will remain) good for the ‘crafting of my level of attention’. And I will watch it again, presumably every now and then for years. Extremely cool stuff!!!
such a beautiful combination of geology, chemistry, physics, history, and craftsmanship
truly awesome. nice to see an alien presenter. they truly look almost human.
Sooo.... "metallurgy".
Agree. Wish they had included the handle and scabbard parts too
Don’t forget mysticism.
And sorcery 😂😂
I'm a PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering and I wanted to say thank you for this video. A lot of your work goes into the materials science behind things (the semiconductor/ blue LED video was a great materials science video too) but this went into depth on something similar to the project I work on. It's difficult to describe what I do in grad school to people, so this video is perfect.
What do you think about material science in building engineering? Is that somewhat the same
@@rodidoesburg4061 If by building engineering you are asking about more structural engineering/ architectural engineering this is a little different. Materials science and engineering is more of an atomistic approach for how a material behaves. So when a material scientist talks about structure, they are usually referring to the crystal structure (how the atoms arrange next to one another, to build a larger crystal) This is different from building engineering, or at least what I believe you are referring to, where structure means bulk properties like strength, ductility, etc. materials science figures out why a material has a certain strength or ductility based on how it was produced, where building engineering just applies the bulk properties to engineering problems like what steel to use to reinforce a building. Long winded but let me know if that answered your question!
What do you do for grad school? I finished grad school recently and was everything metals (casting, mainly).
@@cayman7806 I’m looking at how a new additively manufactured steel that the navy uses to weld their submarines and ship hulls together compares to the actual material they use for the ship hulls when it comes to environmental assisted cracking (seawater+ stress+ not a stainless steel = cracking which leads to failure). The navy wants to try and expedite their submarine production and if they can limit the amount of time needed in heat treatment facilities by printing the parts rather than traditional wrought production, they can make more subs. What did you do for grad school?
@@patrickkirsch1239that’s neat. I worked with the Air Force to develop a benchmark casting process that could be used to develop property process structure maps for novel aerospace alloys. Lots of simulation modeling and lots of melting/pouring metal.
I love how they preserved the rituals involved such as praying. This takes the hardwork and output beyond physical realm, to a spiritual realm. It gives meaning to what they're doing. The level of faith and respect to the elements is astounding. Thank you for showing this to me Veritasium!
This was a wonderful documentary and presentation. I have loved the katana for a long time. I've been into martial arts since age 7 (I'm 41 now). I have learned about blacksmithing, about metal fabrication, geology, chemistry and many other subjects. I was just waiting for a mistake, but you guys did a great job. This was a wonderful look inside. I've always viewed a well-made sword as a work of art, especially these. Those were some absolutely stunning works of art. I'm honored.
I find it so amazing how Japanese people still keep their art and traditions alive. The mastery is unbelivably beautiful.
I find it so amazing how Japanese people still keep making a show of everything. Makes them feel special, perhaps.
These methods make them more expensive due to the labor involved, but far better steel is made everyday industrially. If there were a reason to do so, a modern sword could be devised using cutting edge technology that could outperform and outlast any sword ever made in the past. So what you are seeing here is not the making of "ultimate swords", but really amazing pieces of art that carry history in them.
Yeah, this video is pretty misleading. It's also omitting a lot of information about other swords, making the katana seem a lot more unique and advanced than it actually is.
I mean that's the story with almost all specialty made Japanese goods. Could you get something produce in a lab/factory that's technically better? Sure. People pay for the history and culture of it.
The same can be said for organic food. Even the debate about AI art will literally come down to "did a human put blood sweat and tears into this?".
Any through tempered spring steel is going to make a superior sword. Shadiversity just did a breakdown on this video, and while painfully long, its really good. It seems veritasium fell victim to a lot of the mysticism surrounding the katana and tamahagane steel.
@@ALittleMessiyah you not wrong that logically makes sense however- being a fine furniture trainee (if we talking about straight functionality of swords ignore me but u mentioned art) there is a certain feel that human crafted objects art- furniture posses that machine made processes really really struggle to replicate if at all.
My point is- is not always bout the history and culture and yes human craftsmanship can and does produce ‘better’ things even if technically they are not perfect.
This was beautiful to watch. I've played so many videogames with "smelting" and "forging" survival crafting - but I've never seen how it was done by hand. This was amazing.
Tinkers construct
Really shows the reality of the actual process, it ain't as easy as putting it in the crafting table
Runescape
Japanese culture is simply beautiful and needs to be preserved at all cost!!
I never tire of watching swords being made by masters. Especially Japanese masters, because of the great care and ceremony involved. Thank you for another viewing.
I love how much the producer appreciated the craftsmanship and dedication of these artists.
whoever did your color grading this time deserves a raise - beautiful looking video
Nah that's just japan
@@animenation7171moronic comment from someone who knows nothing about editing
Mexico and China crying in gray shades
@@RafidW9 moronic comment from someone who knows nothing about comedy and sarcasm
I immediately noticed the grading (or maybe lack of grading). Very unique and unexpected for a Veritasium video, but also beautiful.
the quality of this documentary is very good and after knowing about Japanese swords my respect for Japanese swords and craftmanship doubled, thank you for making this amazing documentary 🙏
We owe it to these Japanese craftsman. No modern science. Just skill practice and repetition. Absolutely beautiful
Well... the air hoses in the foundry. Plus, the hammer at the swordsmith. Both are modern science.
The science gives names to the different alloys of steel, and help you understand WHY the product is so good.
The trick is knowing what to update, and what to leave as a tradition.
you mean no cutting cost? morden science is good if it improve the quality right?
These are all modified by modern techniques bro😭
The statement at approx 0:45 that the Japanese made a weapon that was the pinnacle for their style of warfare is incorrect if it refers to Katana since they were NOT primary battlefield weapons. If you want to talk about swords on Japanese battlefields then you need to look at Tachi, O-dachi, and other swords all of which were larger and more robust than katana. Even then, no sword was EVER the primary weapon that Samurai used on battlefields. Swords were always backup weapons or carried for self defense during unarmored “civilian” settings.
The battlefield weapons of Samurai were bows/arrows, yari (spears), naginata (comparable to Chinese Guandao or European glaives), and guns. And yes, not only did Samurai use guns, they LOVED their guns once they found out about them from European traders and had bought enough to figure out how to make their own
Makes sense, The 'Tachi' seams closer to that of the european 'Long Sword' in use cases. While the fighting style of 'O-dachi' would fill a same kind of roll as a 'Flamberge'.
Absolutely. At most, the O-Katana was a battle-field weapon, but not the katana. The katana was more used for show, status, and sometimes duels.
The important part of that statement is
"The materials they had at hand"
The Japanese did not have perfectly clean iron ore to begin with. They also could not make pure steel because the bloomery furnace did not liquify the iron. Only the outer slag/impurities were removed. The slag/impurities on the inside of the iron ore stayed. This is exactly why they folded the steel. It was the best compromise. Can't remove all the impurities, so lets fold the steel so the entire blade is uniformly impure, not perfect in some spots and super impure in other spots.
You are not incorrect in what you say. I agree with you. However as a secondary battlefield weapon (not primary like the yari or guns) and based on the materials they had at hand the katana was the best they could make.
Also around the 1500's the Japanese used the older Tachi and the newer uchigatana.
Uchigatana means strike sword.
Around the late 1500's the Tachi went out of fashion and the uchigatana was then just known as Katana. Katana just means sword. There was no longer two different backup weapon swords being used so no need to differentiate them.
At that point when everyone is using a striking sword, no need to call it striking sword, so peopel just called it a sword (Katana).
@@dfriedbauer why would one watch Veritasium documentaries and at the same time write comments downplaying the value of well-written comments such as OP's, which provide corrections and extra info to everybody interested in it?
@@the8thark You believe the false rumors about Japan that the Chinese and Koreans are spreading.
Iron ore has far more impurities than iron sand.
So if impurities are a problem, as you say, then before modern furnaces were invented, iron products made from iron ore were of lower quality than iron products made from iron sand. .
I remember as a kid I had access to some educational DVDs produced by NHK. All the videos were live demos of physics and chemistry experiments. One of the experiments talking about redox was this kind of iron smelting procedure. It wasn't as high-tier like this one and the "kiln" was just a tower of cinder blocks. This videos just brought back my memories watching those quality contents.
24:10 Wow, that was truly the best advert for Henson's shaving I have ever seen, I'll be purchasing.
When you were partying, I studied the blade. While you indulged in the latest binge-watch, I mastered the ancient techniques of sword-forging. As you scrolled endlessly, seeking validation through likes and follows, I cultivated patience and precision in the heat of the forge. Now, as the world marvels at the artistry of the Japanese sword, and collectors clamor for a piece of history, you have the audacity to ask me to share the secrets of the katana. Remember, while you chased fleeting pleasures, I embraced the discipline of the blade.
Ok, boomer...🤔😂
Tldr
Wtf? 😂🤣
When you were partying, I studied the blade. While you indulged in the latest binge-watch, I mastered the ancient techniques of sword-forging. As you scrolled endlessly, seeking validation through likes and follows, I cultivated patience and precision in the heat of the forge. Now, as the world marvels at the artistry of the Japanese sword, and collectors clamor for a piece of history, you have the audacity to ask me to share the secrets of the katana. Remember, while you chased fleeting pleasures, I embraced the discipline of the blade.
Y'all wouldn't know a pasta if someone served it to you in some fancy restaurant
22:56 it’s simply beautiful to see the awe and joy of the guy alongside the master’s clear proudness of his own work with that twinkle in his eyes
This was the by far best video of how a sword is made. Very well done.
Ive been into japanese swords for ages now...and ive seen quite a number of western versions of them being forged on youtube, however i never knew its the quenching that gave them the traditional curve and not merely forging them into that shape... awesome piece guys..
2:47 Ah yes the bronze katana technique I haven’t had to use this since the heian era
I was gonna say this dawgg
Lmaoo I was trying to find a comment like this
God dammit
I came here to say this
scrolled for this one
The village at 4:44 is Shirakawa, which is the village that Hinamizawa - from Higurashi: When They Cry - is based on
Ah, good reason to NEVER GO THERE, then.
Oh wait you are right, how did I miss that?
So you're saying the village at death minutes, double death seconds..
Oh my… no wonder it feels familiar
@@RhynoD2You can go, but there is no return from the forest where cicadas cry.
It never fails to amaze me. The reverence that is applied to every aspect of the process involved in the making of these weapons. I'm sure that, in some warriors minds, losing one's life to such a spiritual creation, would be considered an honour. Arigato.
19:23 You know the reference
Overdrive
SUNLIGHT YELLOW OVERDRIVE!!!!!!
@WillBilliam
I'm incredibly impressed by the edge alignment on Petr's cuts on those tatami rolls. No scooping or anything.
I don't even know what edge alignment is and I'm still impressed by it.
Another banger. Shoutout to Petr for his hard work on this one. You can tell hit put his whole heart into it.
I really don't think you'll understand how much of a honor it is for them to be allowed there... It's truly special... Thanks ☮️
I really enjoyed this episode, I think what made it enjoyable was seeing Petr's enjoyment and passion. He was able to participate in something many people would enjoy to do once in their lives.
And he was appreciative of that fact!
So why don’t you go and buy that 105 Million katana then?
@@frankthetank8050 What?
Petr hasn't been on camera for long, but he's already gotten me audibly cheering when he slices a thing with a blade.
As a civil engineering student, your animations, live-steel production, and the well explained processes have taught me far more about the creation and forging of steel than the boring, crappy powerpoints shown at my uni.
02:44 Ah yes, my "anti-bronze-sword" technique, I haven't used this since the Heian era
there are a few things more satisfying than seeing a person fulfilling his dream.
That smile and the little nod from the master at 22:55 was golden
May thy knife chip and shatter 16:40
Experiencing all of this through Peters eyes is such a cool addition. The facts are interesting, but all the emotions gave it another dimention. I love it!
It did but im noticing a trend of more videos with new People in the focus which kind of makes me worry if maybe derek is planning on leaving the channel
It is a great privilege to be allowed to witness this aged process, thank you so much.
couldnt unhear 16:39 may thy blade chip and shatter
You are deaf
Must be intentional!
As it is writen
As it was written
Absolutely fascinating video! As someone with a background in Physics and Material Science, I found the process of making katana swords incredibly intriguing. The blend of traditional techniques and advanced material science truly showcases the art and science behind these remarkable weapons. The meticulous process of folding and forging the steel not only results in a blade of exceptional sharpness and durability but also creates a beautiful pattern that makes each katana unique. This video is a great reminder of how deep understanding of materials can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Thanks for sharing such educational content!
I agree on the artistry part, but a 120 dollar Chinese spring steel sword will outperform this in any aspect.
@@thorwaldjohanson2526 absolutely correct these swords do not perform all that well
The folding is not only not a unique process to Japan but it is also only done to remove the impurities of their lower quality metal. It doesn’t make the blade superior, it just makes not terrible lol.
@@LouisKing995 Doesn't even remove the impurities, just homogenizes the metal for the blade so the impure (weak) areas aren't concentrated and the higher quality steel is spread throughout as well. Still garbage steel, just makes it usable.
@@Nyx_2142that would be wrong. It has been shown that if you fold it enough you can remove all impurities. Unfortunately that happens way after 8 to 12 folds
As always Japan's culture is blended with artistry. An artistic video on the art of crafting a katana was well justified.
Loved every moment of this. Would love more of this type of content.
This is great. Just pure education. Real voices and not bots, n sound effects that belong on childrens cartoons, Brilliant. Thanks very much for an excellent education
I've seen numerous documentaries on Japanese swordsmithing. I could watch a thousand more. So glad one of my favorite science channels decided to tackle the subject.
Derek has really become a master of story telling over the years! I could watch him describe paint drying!
I'm always recommending him too people and would usually compare his narratives to that of Neil deGrasse Tyson if he narrated things out of astronomy.
Perhaps too much story and not enough fact these days. Video is full of myth and misinformation regarding the katana. Every time I think of trying to get back into his videos, he puts out drivel like this. Guess that's to be expected from a dude with a degree that basically doesn't actually exist and he rarely has qualifications in anything he speaks about.
Japanese culture and history is so incredibly interesting and fascinating to me! The people, the environment, the history and traditions…completely unique and special. It’s just beautiful.
It’s really not that special in regards to sword-making . But American Weabos have massively inflated the significance of the Katana, and orientalised it when comparing with European swords. They even did “cutting a bullet” test which is so pointless.
@@LouisKing995 Even a butter knife will cut a bullet, lol. Even this video is full of weeaboo garbage about how great and amazing katanas are.
Wonderful documentary on the Japanese Sword the most beautiful piece of art and craftsmanship on the planet imo. Thank you so much, I was entertained but more than that profoundly informed.
2:45
They probably made them to use against Sukuna
😎
Bro said “chip and shatter” and my brain was back in Dune mode so fast
As it was written
Lisan Al-Gaib
While high-quality Japanese katanas are works of art, I would say their high value in price and popularity has a lot to do with pop culture, there are so many movies and TV shows that portray Japanese blades as these legendary cutting weapons second to none, that's why its collectors value is so high. From a purely functional perspective, spring steel and Damascus steel blades outperform Japanese swordsmith methods overall and aesthetics are really in the eyes of the beholder.
Like most things here in Japan they just managed to market it and we'll the myths to the world.
@@unixtreme it holds the same mythos in Japan; many of the soldiers left jobless after the unification war concluded, and so became poets. They spent their time writing legends of the katana in a way the west never truly saw for our blades, and so the legend was born
i wouldnt say that. while the katanas influence in the west tzhrough popculture was huge, especially in the 80s, most people will never buy a nihonto, they much rather have a reproduction of the highlander sword or whatever. most nihonto collectors are japanese and while it might be true that the most expensive blade was valued at 105 million, the most expensive that was actually sold is 400k and the average is not really that different from historical european swords. you can get an antique nihonto for just about 1k, a newly forged one is gonna be about 8k and upwards. its not unreasonably expensive
Except Damascus is also extremely overrated due to pop culture. It's pretty looking, but not inherently better than high quality monosteel. In fact damascus is much weaker than monosteel if it is not perfectly forge welded together. A single delamination or inclusion will ruin a blade. The only real difference between damascus and monosteel is that damascus has different amounts of nickel and/or chromium in the different layers to show a pattern when acid etched.
The most important factors for good steel are the alloy, heat treatment, and the resulting crystal structure. You can create softer (or tougher) areas and harder areas in the same piece of monosteel if you heat treat it properly.
@@MovieFactory I'm not sure if you have factored in the influence of otaku and weeb culture, which are some of the biggest global cultural influences for the past 2 decades and still going strong. While this is anecdotal, I know quite a number of regular people who bought expensive katanas but none that have bought European weapons unless they did HEMA.
I hope we continue to perserve such important aspects of culture for so much longer!
With the ending sentence, this was really inspiring!
The crystal structure animations in this were awesome and I've shared this to a bunch of smiths who I've struggled to get the idea across to. Brilliant work, and a great watch.
Splitting a bullet is nothing; you can do it with a dull butter knife, as long as it is made of steel.
But that doesnt sound and look so good 😉 There is just so much hollywood shenanigans about the Katana that it hurts sometimes
I went into this video thinking "oh man is this going to be another video portraying Japanese swords as some sort of mythical objects" and it didn't disappoint.
@@F0XD1E I'm glad they made it very clear within the first two sentences, so I could directly skip the watch
Many people think, katanas are by far the best sword in the world. Of course katanas belong to the best swords, but they weren't clearly better than the european swords. If a european sword and a katana hit each other the katana will rather get destroyed.
For a real test they should mount it in a lathe and turn an aluminum bar into chips
Always been fascinated by these swords, then I became a weld inspector and learned metallurgy, gave me a whole new appreciation, this video did a great job explaining, awesome work!
Anything can be art when one strives with care and dedication.
Small correction. By folding the steel you will actually lose a lot of steel due to slag and pieces flying off, the more layers the more material loss will happen. Alec Steele on youtube who specialises in modern damascus talked about this in one of his videos
Which is probably why it's only folded 8 to 13 times. 35 years ago, I watched something that talked about them being folded 1,000 times +, they must have not understood how the layers form
@@Woodability"if it's good, let's do it a thousand times. that'll make it better, right?"
@@Woodability it's another marketing trick, saying folded to mean the number of layers formed rather than the number of actions performed.
@@Woodability
Technically you can easily get 1,000+ layers formed in pattern welding (not really what is being done here, really, due to the construction of the blade itself) by starting off with like 20 thin layers and folding it only it several times. The layer count expands exponentially. Larrin Thomas, the inventor of MagnaCut, actually has a YT channel called "Knife Steel Nerds" where he not-so-long ago tested damascus steel with alternating layer counts. (It helps that his father, Devin Thomas, is a master smith and has been making damascus knives for decades.). Including 25, 125, 625 and 3,125 layers. You couldn't even really make out the layers in the 3,125 layer one. You could definitely tell it was pattern welded, but individual layers no longer existed.
I'll just say that the way of cooling swords with clay to get a harder edge for me was a mind-blowing solution. The person who discovered it must've been a genius.👏
I learned more about forging steel watching this video than watching dozens of shows and hundreds of episodes focused on forging steel.
I was today years old when I learned that the bamboo stalks/poles?/totems? used to test and train a swordsman are actually real and not just something in Zelda. 😂 1:27
"Whatever you do, you should do it deep care, with attention to detail, and love for the craft." That explains why so many under paid karoshi happen to be found in the animation studios.
The honour of being able to work with everyone involved in making a katana is priceless.
There is a very old documentary from french-german arte tv channel about the production of japanese swords (and some stories regarding them). It's nice to see, that this tradition of traditional steel production and sword making is still alive 20 years later, although with somewhat more modern tools and approaches. The tv team was very lucky back then to see a real master piece being forged by Sadatoshi Gassan.
Thanks for this production!
Such an honour and privilege to be invited to participate and film in this tradition sword making process. A big Thank You to the Japanese for so generously sharing their traditions and a big thank you to the filming and production team for doing a good job. Really appreciate you all ❤
Imagine spending all that time on a sword just for it to shatter apart in water. I’d be heartbroken.
cry in your six likes, sold account
22:50 the master swordsmiths smile of satisfaction about perfect cuts done by foreigner with masterwork sword
The attention to detail in these swords would surely catch the eye of a certain "triple blade enthusiast."
a certain directionally challenged swordsman
@@saitama22 Shadiversity?
@@saitama22 demo tf2?
skallagrim?
A certain pirate