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Costruire una spada da kendo
In its course of growth, bamboo is exposed to the wind and rain, and suffers under much snow. During this time the upper leaves and branches are stripped and leaves an erect stalk of bamboo.
In normal straight growth, the upper portion will droop one way or the other under the weight of the leaves and branches. Those bamboo which grow straight are said to have [ Ura ga nai ]No matter how thick and handsomely a bamboo grows, if it [ Ura ga nai ]then it cannot be used for a SHINAI. If a SHINAI were made from such bamboo, it will without a doubt split in a short time, leaving it splintered and intensely dangerous.
Using a tape measure, the most suitable bamboo to make a SHINAIis selected. Master Susumu used to grow his own bamboo, but now he searches for and selects the best. An experienced master's eye is required to make the right selection. The bamboo joints are punched out with an iron rod. The hole should be fairly big so it doesn't expand when boiled. It looks easy, but doing four or five of these is enough to hurt your shoulder. The bamboo is boiled in the winter in a large caldron. The fire is started at 4 o'clock in the morning. This process is to remove the oil content and the dirt from the bamboo. After it is boiled, detergent and caustic soda are then added, the amount depending upon the thickness of bamboo, the weather, and the temperature. After it is brought to a boil again, the bamboo is taken out and rubbed. It will then became a fine green color. The bamboo is split evenly into 3.5 cm-wide strips (without using a tape measure). Joints are then marked inside each piece of bamboo. The boiled bamboo is dried in the sun for about a month, and then in a greenhouse for another month. In 2 or 3 months, the bamboo turns to the color of a SHINAI.
Unboiled bamboo is dried in only a greenhouse for 3 to 4 months. SHINAI made without the boiling process is also popular among some kendo lovers. It is said to bring out the flexible of bamboo. The dried bamboo is divided into sets of 4 pieces each and then each set is weighed. The required weight of SHINAI for adults must be at least 1200 grams. Lighter ones are used for either short SHINAI or those for children. The bamboo is then roughly planed, gradually becoming the shape of a SHINAI. The bamboo is heated with a TAMEDAI, a tool specially made by Master Susumu, and then bent into shape with a TAMEGI, also hand-made. In this TAME process, the thickness, shape, and center of balance are decided. TAME is a very important process which determines the quality of a SHINAI. How long the bamboo should be heated or how hard it should be bent can be mastered only through much experience. Each piece of bamboo is bent individually, so that when four of them are put together, there is no space left between. If there is any spacing at this stage, it will be impossible to correct it later. The surface of the bamboo will then be shaved with a knife to create a rounded shape. The bamboo joint of the hilt is scraped trimmed off. Again using a hand-made tool, the bamboo is planed into the shape of a SHINAI. A small knife is used for detail carving. After making adjustments to ensure the joints of each piece of bamboo are aligned, the edges are planed off. Most of the tools used for making SHINAI are hand-made. Using a very small plane, the joining surfaces of the bamboo pieces are shaved. The most important aspect of a SHINAI is that upon striking another, one of the bamboo pieces slips inside between the other three, and altogether they absorb and alleviate the shock of a stroke. This delicate shaving makes the SHINAI an extremely unique finished products. The processed parts are smoothed with sandpaper. The four sections are placed together and a wedge driven into the hilt. Using a plane and sandpaper, the hilt is shaved to form either a round- or an oval-shaped hilt. The hilt is adjusted if necessary, and the product is finished by rubbing with sandpaper and a scouring pad. The bamboo is polished with boiled rapeseed oil which gives the bamboo it's peculiar luster and scent of a new SHINAI. The hilt is adjusted if necessary, and the product is finished by rubbing with sandpaper and a scouring pad. The bamboo is polished with boiled rapeseed oil which gives the bamboo it's peculiar luster and scent of a new SHINAI. For the final stage in theSHINAI construction process, the bamboo is tied with strings. The Master tests a finished SHINAI by swinging it around. If he is not pleased with it, or he thinks it does not fit the order, he will not put it on sale. Then finally the name AKATSUKI is inscribed on the SHINAI, and another work is completed.
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