The Foreigner Who Became A Japanese Swordsmith

[Mulboyne]

The Yomiuri has an article (Japanese) about Keith Nobuhira Austin, apparently the only foreigner who was accepted for, and completed, the apprenticeship to become a licensed swordsmith. Austin died in 1997 and the article reports that an exhibition of his work is being held in Sakaki, Nagano Prefecure. Rather than translate the Yomiuri piece, it's easier to link to an English site which tell his story in more detail. It describes how Austin first visited Japan in 1961 to study art but quickly became fascinated by Japanese swords and managed to arrange an introduction to master swordsmith Takahashi Sadatsugu who agreed to take him on. Sadagatsu passed away during Austin's apprenticeship which led to him being accepted by Miyairi Akihira (third from the right in the photo above) who was one of the finest swordsmiths in Japan and the second man to be named a "Living National Treasure". This put Austin in the company of some of the best sword-making talent in Japan and he received his licence in 1968. He returned to America in 1971, set up his own forge in Yuba, California, and started producing his own swords which he successfully presented at the prestigious Shinsakuto Meito sword competition. Although he shared his knowledge freely, he had no children or fully-trained students who could take his name and carry on his tradition when he died. The Yomiuri says that he was a perfectionist and left behind few swords because he was unwilling to inscribe his name on an inferior piece. The article also mentions that after he passed away, his friends and family found an unused airline ticket to Japan in his room.

In a related story, Captain Japan has an interview with sword-polisher Jon Bowhay here.

[Mulboyne]

Here's the Yomiuri English translation:

Exhibition introduces foreign swordmaker

A retrospective exhibition of the work of the "only foreigner permitted to make Japanese swords" is on display for the first time in Sakakimachi, Nagano Prefecture. American swordsmith Keith "Nobuhira" Austin learned his trade under a master swordsman in Japan in the 1960s, before returning in 1971 to the United States, where he carried on crafting Japanese swords until his death at the age of 62 in 1997. The exhibition is the first time an attempt has been made to shed light on the work of Austin--reputedly the only foreigner ever to have been granted permission to make Japanese swords by the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords.

Born Keith Eldridge Austin, he became fascinated by Japanese swords while studying art in New York. This prompted him to move to Japan in 1961, and in 1965 he became a student of swordsmith Yukihira Miyairi, a living national treasure, at his workshop in Sakakimachi. "[Austin] was a rare foreigner who plunged himself into [swordmaking] purely through a passion for swords," said Miyairi's second son, Kozaemon Yukihira, 50, a primary school student at the time Austin first came to study at the workshop. Austin took the name of Nobuyoshi and trained for five years under the guidance of the master swordsmith. Austin finally received approval to make swords from the Cultural Affairs Agency in 1968, when he changed his Japanese name to include a character from his master's name, giving it the reading of Nobuhira. However, after he returned to the United States in 1971, Austin was not heard of again until recently.

Two years ago, a sake brewer in Gunma Prefecture told Kozaemon Yukihira about the existence of three swords Austin made during his lifetime. On seeing them for the first time, Kozaemon Yukihira felt that "even the parts that are not seen were scrupulously and carefully made." One of the swords was donated to the town last spring, spurring authorities to put on an exhibition displaying the work of Austin and his contemporaries at the town's Museum of Tetsu (iron). Following his return to the United States, Austin made charcoal, obtained iron sand and continued to make swords. A perfectionist who would destroy swords he was not satisfied with, Austin left behind only a select few weapons, including six daggers and one short sword, which were acquired by aficionados. After his death, an unused air ticket to Japan reportedly was found in his room. The exhibition is displaying the three swords and other Austin-related exhibits until June 22