Making of the Katana: Behind the scenes with a Master

A few days ago I had the amazing opportunity to meet, speak with, and watch the famous Japanese blacksmith Masahira Fujiyasu work during a special event at the Minka-en grounds in Fukushima City, thanks to the hard work and planning of Andy Coombs and the Fukushima City Tourism and Convention Association. This type of event hasn’t been held for over a decade and the majority of Japanese people never get this opportunity, let alone a foreigner.  Mr. Fuhiyasu’s master was a national treasure of Japan and I am told that Mr. Fujiyasu is the last classically trained blacksmith that has mastered techniques of making Kamakura and Muromachi period styled blades. What added to this even more was the opportunity to speak with him and his students during lunch and while he was taking a break in the afternoon.

Mission statement (IS 1)

kansai gaidai, from main gate

This is my final semester as an Undergraduate student and I have decided to take a look back at my previous semester.  I was studying abroad at 関西外大（ 関西外国語大学 ）Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, located perfectly in the middle of the Osaka, Kyoto, Nara  triangle, for four and a half mind blowing months.  It is amazing just how fast time can go by; it feels like just last week I was camping on Makino Mountain with a few of my best friends and their family, eating yakitori and sukiyaki.

I will be making a series of blogs focusing on my experiences while in Japan, as well as my reactions after returning to the United States.  There will be many comparisons between the USA and Japan in everything that caught my attention, ranging from nature and wildlife, the transportation systems, and view of foreigners.  I will be incorporating a few stories of my more interesting encounters that left me in a state of bliss and at times confused beyond means.  What more could anyone ask for out of achieving a life time goal?

If you happen to read this and think of any questions, comments, or topics that you would like me to go more in-depth with, please comment or message me.

College Apocalypse; 2012

It is 2012 and the end of the world as we knew it has commenced.  A Neuro–virus has been released onto the majority of the students here at UMass.  The fire sprinkler systems were broken into, the Neuro-virus added and then, at the peak of the day, they were all set off simultaneously, effectively drenching the unexpecting and quickly irritated students.  The virus seeped into the body through cuts, scrapes, eyes and even the pores if left on the skin long enough.  All thanks to a junior writing professor and his whimsical mind and sporadic distaste for monotony, a few others and myself ended up outside, sitting on the steps of the Campus Center when this all occurred.  This spared us from the almost instantaneous Zombification process that occurred once the N-virus reached your blood system.

Now what?

 

Pirates at a Pool Party

It was a sweltering summer day, not even the carnivorous mosquitoes had energy in them to find their prey.  There were no clouds in the sky, the grass was parched, and while a couple laid in a hammock sweating just from the effort of their existence, a monumental decision had been reached.   This called for a pool party.  Within ten minutes of this thought being processed 50 people dove head first into the life saving arms of the chilly pool water.  A deep sigh ushered from the depths of the pool by the twirling bodies, released with every wave on the surface.  Abruptly, a pack of enraged men in torn clothing burst through the 6ft fence surrounding the yard and pool. Each ghastly hulk of a being took two to three people each, tying them together in an instant and demanding the leader to come forth and surrender the blessed pool of water.