SoulSmithing - Welcome

This site is a window into the world of Japanese Swordsmith Apprentice Pierre Nadeau and his mentors.

« It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or how the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood [...] »

- Theodore Roosevelt, Paris 1910

Apprentice Pierre Nadeau

...has been pursuing an apprenticeship in Western Japan under the mentorship of swordsmiths in the Kawachi Kunihira Ichi-mon and others. This group has produced six independent smiths to date in the Bizen and Soshu traditions, including Kiyota Jirokunietsu under whom Pierre was allowed to enter this tradition.

This site is intended as a window on this very peculiar world as well as a ressource for those whishing to learn more directly from the source.

«« Find more through these links! »»

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.	News Last updated: April 10th, 2009

Visit to a fine saya-shi
A new friend and fine mentor
Account of a visit to a japanese scabbard maker

Pierre's short experience as uchi-deshi!
Pierre was accepted as uchi-deshi to Kiyota's
own master, Kawachi Kunihira,
only to fall back to the previous set-up
Read the account...

Pierre gets married
Almost an exact year after Kiyota,
Pierre exchanged the vows with
a Japanese beauty!

Article published in the
Hiragana Times
Authored by Jonathon Walsh

Article: How to become a
swordsmith apprentice
What it takes to be part of
the japanese tradition

Visit to a saya-shi
Coming soon!

Pierre's short stay at
K awachi Kunihira

Pierre's wedding

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