“Swords Are Not For Fighting.”

Shugendo to Gassan Sadatoshi:   There be wild animals on Mount Gassan.  

800 years ago in the mountains of Yamagata the Gassan family made swords for Shugendo monks who used them for protection from wild animals as they treaded the steep ridges and valleys of Mount Gassan. In the 1820’s the family moved to Osaka. From there they moved to Sakurai City, Nara where they can be found today.

Photo credit: Gassan Sadatoshi (from his website)

Following our visit to Gassan Sadatoshi at his home in Sakurai ... his words began to slip into the microscopic spaces between the cells of my mind.

“Swords are not for fighting.”

Words that echo in a whisper when I think of him or see a Japanese sword.

“Swords are not for fighting.”  

Yawarakai-Te (柔らかい手, "Tender Hands"), is the name

of a sword made by the  legendary Gorō Nyūdō Masamune circa 1264-1343, recognized as one of Japan’s greatest swordsmiths. Also a priest he named the sword:

Yawarakai-Te (柔らかい手,

Click HERE for the Legend of... “Tender Hands").

Photo credit: http://gassan.info/ 4 photos on this page.

Like the Shugendo monks 800 years ago, Gassan Sadatoshi crafts swords to  not for fighting, but to protect family and the innocent. I don’t think Sadatoshi used the term Samurai Sword at all during our visit. I imagine this term conjures the sword fighting that does not reflect the mindful philosophy of his work. 

Gassan Sadatoshi’s father made the sword for the newborn who would one day be Emperor Of Japan to protect the emperor’s family, the people of Japan and to guide the emperor in his duties as head of state.

How to visit Gassan Sadatochi’s Sword Studio 

... and if the planets align, you might shake the hand of the swordmaker, the same hand that crafts three million dollar swords.  Make sure to take Akiko with you.  See below. Once each week Gassan Sadatoshi opens his Tsukiyama Japanese Sword Training Memorial House to visitors 10am- 4pm Saturdays from March to November. (closed in August).

Located at:  228-8 Chihara,  Sakurai City, Nara, Japan. Inquiries; 0744-42-3230  Click HERE for details at his website.

Since Sadatoshi speaks only Japanese, my friend and most excellent tour guide Akiko Murakami will be your translator.  Click HERE for Akiko.

Click HERE for Akiko’s Yamato Tours website.

Next time I visit Gassan Sadatoshi I plan to walk the ancient road Yamanobe no Michi, connecting Omiwa Shrine to Gassan’s Memorial House via Sai Shrine. 

The Shugendo monks trekked Mount Gassan, we can walk the Yamanobe no Michi trail to Gassan’s home.

400 years later comes the Legend of Masamune, one of the three peerless sword makers of Japanese history.

Once or twice a year there are round trip flights from LAX to Narita International for as little as $500. From your country of origin, fly into Osaka, Japan and board a train to Nara Station.  I’ve stayed at the affordable Nikko Nara Hotel at Nara Station and invite my family and friends to stay there as well. Last we were there, we had dinner at each of it’s three most excellent restaurants. From Nikko Nara it is 42 minutes to Gassan, including the 15 minute walk. 

Here is the short walk from Miwa Station. Yes you can enlist a taxi to get to Gassan, but in the spirit of the Shugendo monks, hike the ancient trail.

Click HERE for an excellent article about the Gassan Tradition

Gassan Sword Workshop & Museum  https://www.visitnara.jp/venues/A01191/