Observation: Sword polishing / Funabashi
Making the cut
We join movie directors, curators and yakuza, who all drop in on the young blade keeping alive a centuries-old Japanese craft.
“The relationship between swordsmith and polisher is similar to that between music composer and performer,” says Sotaro Matsumura, as he sits down on his workshop floor. “You’re creating this thing together – it’s a performance. You need each other for the sword to come to life.”
It is 07.00 and the scent of coffee hangs in the air when we visit Matsumura’s cedar-clad workshop. “Do you like bossa nova? That’s my favourite genre for gentle polishing. Of course, I play techno or dub for heavier, more physical work,” he says, walking over to his…
