Mizuno Tanrenjyo

A long-standing knife and Japanese sword forge that still operates by bellows even today.

A studio that forges Japanese swords and knives, founded in 1872. As well as
forging the Japanese sword awarded to the winner of the All Japan Student Sumo
Championships, they are also famous for creating a warding sickle to protect
against evil during the great restoration of work on the world heritage site of the
five-storied pagoda of Horyuji Temple in 1952. This sickle, which is newly made once
every 200 - 300 years, was created by collecting up and reforging old nails from the dismantling of Horyuji Temple, and is said to contain nails from 1300 years ago.
Inside the forge you can see, and even touch, a spare sickle that was forged at
that time.