Tamahagane
Genre: Historical/Drama
Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Writers: Wyatt Allen & Jimmy Ellis
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Mackenyu, Koji Yakusho, Koyuki
Plot: Plot: 1650, Yaisei, Japan
Leaves dance in the wind, a beautiful sight of water running down a stream. The small village of Yaisei situated at the foot of the mountains. We follow the stream up a bit higher into the mountains. We come upon a Shoin-zukuri (type of home), smaller than those in the village. We hear the sound of a hammer, pressing into steel over and over again. The rhythm unchanging, not one beat missed. It seems to lay the foundation for the rhythm of the stream to sound soothing to the audience’s ears. As we creep closer into the home we see Hiroshi Kazumitsu (Tatsuya Nakadai) as the one handling the hammer, while sweat is running down his forehead. The hammer looks heavy in his aging arms, but he never stops nonetheless. He is in the process of folding steel over itself, repeatedly. Sparks are flying from the extremely hot steel as Hiroshi is covering the block of steel in clay and ashes. He places the steel back into the furnace for a few beats, before getting it back out, folding it and hammering away once again.
Taking a break from work Hiroshi steps outside his Shoin-zukuri and sits down at his porch taking a look at the beautiful nature and landscape around him. He is pretty alone around here. Hiroshi sits down cross-legged, and with very controlled breathing he closes his eyes. Other than Hiroshi’s breathing we only hear the sound of the stream and the birds chirping. Hiroshi is meditating, but he is interrupted by images of forging the perfect blade flashing before his eyes. The sound of a hammer pressing into steel shoots into his ears. He tries to let go of the thoughts, but they come back. After giving up on the meditation, Hiroshi goes inside to prepare a meal. He pulls out a huge sharp knife, of course made by himself noticeable by the hand-carved markings. Before using the knife he takes a look at the knife’s harmon, the edge pattern that’s created through the hardening process, reviewing his own work. The knife easily cuts through the smoked fish without any problems. After enjoying his meal, consisting of fish and rice, he goes back to work. He is continuing with the same procedure that he did before taking a break – folding the steel again and again. Even though it’s a repetitive process, Hiroshi is staying focused, not losing one bit of concentration.
Hiroshi is sitting down on the floor, writing down notes on a sheet of rice paper with ink and a feather in his hand. In small steps he is explaining the process of forging a sword by giving out all the little things he learned through his lengthy experience as a sword smith. He has to stop for a while as he holds his right shoulder, hinting at a little injury. Pushing through the pain, he is continuing to write by explaining it so detailed and step for step that even a total beginner who has nothing to do with swords or forging would at least understand how to proceed.
Outside of a large imperial villa in Tatoro, Japan a young farmer dressed in peasantry cloth, Takano Misuharu (Mackenyu Arata), contemplates his future in Tatoro. As he plows the vegetation for ready-made vegetables he is approached by the warrior landlord of the region, Ichijou Michinobu (Koji Yakusho). He demands that Takano stand and follow him, Takano follows his orders immediately, springing to his feet. Takano is taken into the building, with Ichijou speaking to Takano. He tells Takano that he is having him travel to Yaisei to retrieve a blade from Master Hiroshi, up in the mountains. Takano, without speaking out of turn, asks Ichijou why he does not retrieve it himself. Ichijou tells Takano that he has business to tend to, he cannot make the journey and Takano is the youngest and fittest of his farmers. Takano agrees to the journey. Ichijou tells him he can take his horse to help him on his trip.
Takano prepares the horse, taking only what he needs for the journey to Yaisei. As he rides off on horseback we cut back to Yaisei.
Kimura Kazumitsu (Koyuki) makes her way up the mountains carrying a basket made out of bamboo filled with groceries with her. She is visiting her grandfather Hiroshi at his home. Hiroshi is of course working on the blade, telling his granddaughter that he completely forgot the time. As he thanks Kimura for bringing him his supplies, he invites her to have a tea with him. They sit down on the floor drinking the green tea Hiroshi just brew for them. Hiroshi asks her how she has been, Kimura tells him she has been good. She tells him that they had a really good harvest this time and the whole village will celebrate it. She invites Hiroshi to come down to the village to celebrate with them, but he declines the invitation, as he has to finish the blade. Kimura is not happy that her grandfather is still doing so much physical stuff at his age and suggests that he gets an apprentice that helps him with the more physical stuff and he could also teach him the craft by passing his knowledge. But Hiroshi is stubborn, an apprentice wouldn’t hit the steel as precisely as he does. Knowing he will not change his mind, Kimura walks out of her grandfather’s home and back down the hill, toward the village.
Takano sits on horseback looking down at the village from a cliff. He finds a path down one side and take it on the horse.
As Takano rides through the village he gets a few looks from its inhabitants. He continues riding through, only wanting the katana to return home. He rides slowly passed Kimura, as she walks down the hill toward her home, the two making eye contact as Kimura knows he is on the way to her grandfather. Tying his horse to the nearest post, Takano enters Hiroshi’s home. Hiroshi continues on his work, not even acknowledging Takano’s presence. Hiroshi continues bashing the hammer, although it is evident it is taking a toll on his aged shoulder. Takano begins to become impatient and asks Hiroshi how much longer he intends to make him wait. Hiroshi calls him boy and tells him to wait, the sword is yet to be perfect, he must wait until it is finished. He reminds Takano that he has arrived 2 days early. Takano is annoyed but understands. Knowing it may be a couple days before he can leave Yasei again, Takano finds himself an old barn in the small village, where he is preparing to sleep this night.
Early in the morning Takano is woken up by young wagyu cattle licking his face. He packs his things and rides the way up the mountains again. Before he can even see Hiroshi’s home, he can already hear him working. The hammer hitting the steel again and again. Takano seems a bit surprised about Hiroshi’s work ethic. When arriving at Hiroshi’s place, Takano tells him that he really starts work early. Again not getting any reaction from Hiroshi. Takano asks Hiroshi if there is anything that he can do to help speed up the process, Hiroshi tells him it would speed up the process if he would just leave and let him do his job.
Instead of leaving Hiroshi’s homestead Takano stays, but keeps out of sight. He remains silent, staring at Hiroshi as he crafts the perfect sword. Every hit of the hammer begins to run down Hiroshi’s shoulder, grimaces on his face make this evident to Takano. Takano begins to creep closer to Hiroshi. Hiroshi hits the blade with the hammer, before letting out a loud groan in pain. The hammer begins to fall to the ground, Hiroshi unable to hold it any longer. Before the hammer can hit the ground Takano catches it. He tells Hiroshi to sit, his shoulder is obviously not in a state to be making this weapon. Takano guides Hiroshi to a nearby seat. Hiroshi tries to shoo him away, wanting to finish the blade, however Takano insists, he will wield the hammer. Hiroshi hesitant at first, agrees to the proposition.
Takano, hammer in hand, begins to strike down on the steel. Hiroshi stops him after a few hits, telling him that is not how it is done. Takano is annoyed, stating that he is hitting it the way he saw Hiroshi do it. Hiroshi remarks that if that’s how he was doing perhaps his time is truly up, but he knows that’s not how he was doing it. He tells Takano to go and read his writings, in there he will find the way to strike the hammer. Takano becomes even more annoyed, threatening to leave Yaisei, however remembers that he must go home with the blade, or not return at all. He heads over to the writings and begins to read up on the correct technique.
Takano is giving his best to do right by Hiroshi’s high standards but he is missing the years of experience that Hiroshi has. Hiroshi tells him it’s not about his technique, it’s about his approach. He is hitting the steel like he just wants to be done with it and it shows. There is no heart or passion in Takano’s swings and that is not the way that the steel is processed. There is a special connection between the swordsmith, the steel and the blade that is going to be forged. But for Takano the connection is just not there yet. Hiroshi is looking for something specific in his place that he wants to show Takano. Hiroshi returns with something that’s rolled up in a cloth. He grabs a steel clump that’s laying close to the forge. He tells Takano that the clump is called Tamahagane, it’s what they start the whole process with. A raw and unformed material that will soon be a beautiful but deadly katana. He removes the cloth, revealing a katana that was forged by Hiroshi himself.
With big eyes Takano is looking at the katana. The blade is unbelievable sharp, even though the back is thick and robust. Everything was crafted at the highest level - the blade, the handle, the details, the harmon. It’s truly a masterpiece. Once again Hiroshi shows him the steel clump, the Tamahagane. He tells him that going from this one thing (the Tamahagane) to another (the katana) takes decades of hard work to really perfect it.
With this newfound knowledge he begins to slow down his strikes, to care more for the blade that he is crafting. The two of them now share a strong bond, not only with each other but the blade too. After one more strike with the hammer Hiroshi tells him to stop. It is complete. Hiroshi has Takano raise the katana, keeping it horizontal in the air and the two admire the blade. Takano eyes wide. Hiroshi comments on a job well done. He tells Takano that he best head off to Ichijou now. Takano looks around, seeing Takano has three more orders to complete, he tells Hiroshi that he wishes to stay, help Hiroshi with these orders. Hiroshi comments on his future if he were to stay, Takano says he does not care what happens between himself and Ichijou. Hiroshi nods his head, very well.
Back at the Imperial villa in Tatoro, Ichijou has completed his business and returns to his home. Upon arrival he realises that Takano has yet to return with his blade. He questions everyone in town and surmises that Takano has stolen it for himself. He grabs another of his horses and begins the ride to Yaisei.
Kimura is making her regular way up the mountains to visit her grandfather. Kimura is interrupting Takano and Hiroshi at their work. She is surprised to find her grandfather Hiroshi in a more passive role, holding the steel and instructing his young apprentice Takano on where to hit it next. Kimura is happy to see her grandfather taking a backseat and working so well together with someone else. The two finally notice that Kimura is there and Hiroshi introduces Kimura to Takano. Hiroshi tells them to sit down as he is going to brew the tea. Kimura and Takano get to know each other, Kimura tells him that she is very happy that her grandfather has found someone to pass his knowledge to. Takano is thankful that Hiroshi accepted him as his apprentice. Hiroshi brings the tea, joining the conversation.
As they finished drinking tea, Takano is going outside to get some wood to heat the place. Kimura tells her grandfather that Takano seems to be good for him. Hiroshi nods, adding that Takano learns pretty fast.
Takano is working on another blade, while Hiroshi guides him through the process once again. After forming the blade just like he learned from his mentor, he is now about to quench it to start the hardening process. Hiroshi reminds him that the timing is the most important thing, it makes the difference between a good and a great katana. Because of it being so difficult to master, Hiroshi tells Takano exactly when to put the blade into the cold water. After repeating the process for some time, Hiroshi tells him to stop. Takano does as said and takes a look at the finished product before handing the blade to Hiroshi, excited to hear his verdict. Hiroshi takes a long skeptical look at the blade, examining it carefully. He slightly nods to Takano, while telling him that they did a pretty good job.
Immediately after, Ichijou storms into Hiroshi’s home. He immediately confronts the old man, Takano steps in pushing Ichijou away from Hiroshi. Ichijou draws his katana and holds it to Takano, he orders him outside. Ichijou tells Takano to fall to his knees. Takano is pleading for his life, apologising. Ichijou asks Takano where his blade is. Takano says he was going to bring it, but he saw that Hiroshi needed his help completing some others. Ichijou scoffs at the thought that master Hiroshi would need the help of someone as lowly as Takano. Hiroshi slowly shuffles out of his home, Ichijou’s new katana in hand. He offers it to the warlord, telling him he wants no payment, just that he spare Takano, he spare his new apprentice. Ichijou laughs off the old man before finding him to be serious, he snatches his katana from the old man’s hands and leaves, taking his horse with him. Takano looks up to Hiroshi thanking him. Hiroshi doesn’t say a word just ushers him back inside, getting him back to work.
Five years later. Takano is making his way up the mountain carrying supplies to the home where we saw him working with Hiroshi five years ago. He is enjoying the beautiful view down to the village, remembering his first time riding on a horseback to Hiroshi’s house. As he arrives Takano sorts in the supplies, the place feels empty. Takano seems to be alone. He is going right back to work, starting to heat up a block of steel in the furnace, just before continuing the folding process. Takano seems to have learned a lot in the last years. Suddenly an old man is entering the scene on a walking stick. It’s Hiroshi, his old age slowed him down one or two steps. He is asking Takano why it took him so long to get the supplies, just before scolding him for starting the folding process without him. He sits down next to Takano, guiding him once again through the process.
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