marc newson develops aikuchi sword with japanese master craftsmen for WOW

marc newson develops aikuchi sword with japanese master craftsmen for WOW
all images courtesy wOw

japanese sword making has a history dating back more than 1000 years, and is considered the height of traditional japanese craftsmanship. not only the blade itself, but the entire piece including all the decorative sword fittings are individually conceived as one-of-a-kind masterpieces. to add a more global perspective into the ancient technique, tokyo-based studio WOW enlisted designer marc newson, and a team of veteran woodworkers, blade-smiths, and lacquer specialists to create ‘aikuchi’, a near-perfect sword that epitomizes the expertise of the long-established japanese craft. created entirely in the town of tohoku, japan, the sword will be available as an edition of 10.

‘aikuchi does not incorporate a ‘lower guard’ into its design, and is therefore considered by some people to be more of a lucky charm than a weapon,’ explains WOW. ‘the name ‘aikuchi was chosen for this project to highlight the tight coupling between the sword, handle and scabbard, and also to draw attention to the fusion of two different cultures.’

video courtesy WOW inc

video courtesy WOW inc