刀箱師
TEL:045-315-4109
Business hours: Weekdays 10:00-17:00 (closed on weekends and holidays)
KATANA CASE SHI
Keisuke Nakamura | KATANA CASE SHI
Keisuke Nakamura
Born December 22, 1987. Currently resides in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
After graduating from Chiba Institute of Technology, I spent about 10 years at SEGA Corporation, where I was involved in the design and development of products such as the UFO Catcher (claw machines).
Since childhood, I’ve had a passion for making things—as well as a fondness for play sword fighting with toy blades.
In high school, I even considered purchasing a real Japanese sword through online auctions, but ultimately gave up due to family concerns.
At the age of 30, I happened to encounter the beauty of an authentic Japanese sword for the first time and was completely captivated. I eventually purchased my first long-desired blade.
Wanting to enjoy it daily, I envisioned displaying it in my home like an art piece in a museum. However, I found that no such product existed, which led me to the decision to build one myself.
Creating the case on the side proved difficult, so after acquiring my first sword, I decided to leave my job and pursue the craft full-time.
In 2018, I launched my career as a dedicated sword display case artisan—a “Katana Case Shi” (刀箱師)—sharing my work primarily through social media.
In 2020, I was honored to receive the Omotenashi Selection 2020 award, judged by a panel of foreign experts residing in Japan. The cases were recognized as a product full of uniquely Japanese appeal, worthy of being introduced to the world.
With the concept of “Living with the Sword”, my goal is to seamlessly integrate Japanese swords into modern homes as both art and interior design.
By increasing opportunities for people to appreciate the beauty of Japanese swords in everyday life, I strive to share their artistic and cultural value with a wider audience.
■Media appearances, awards, etc.
・TV: Fuji TV Mr. Sunday
・Radio: PILOT THE ORIJINAL (J-WAVE)
・Newspapers: Tokyo Shimbun , Nikkan Gendai
・Magazines: Weekly Japanese Sword , Tokyojin , mono magazine , Lightning , Otoko no Kakurega , Nile'sNILE , etc.
・WEB: Manekai by Ameba , Rerise News , Sword World Japanese Sword Blog "Toukenbro" and others
・Awards: Hospitality Selection 2020 Award Winner
Display case concept
"Living with a KATANA"
Many people today perceive Japanese swords as “useless” or even “dangerous” objects.
It’s a common view in modern society.
Interestingly, while very few people decorate their homes with swords, many hang paintings on their walls.
What is the difference?
To me, there isn’t a significant one.
Paintings not only brighten up a space—they also enrich our sensitivity and bring a sense of beauty to everyday life.
I believe Japanese swords can do the same.
The grain-like patterns on a sword’s surface, the ink-wash-painting-like world within the hamon (temper line), and the scent and patina of aged steel that has survived for centuries—these elements possess an artistic depth.
Even fittings such as tsuba often feature motifs of flowers and grasses.
After acquiring a sword, I found myself noticing beauty in things I had previously overlooked—like the simple elegance of wildflowers by the roadside.
This is the “color” the sword brought into my life.
Japanese swords have long served many roles—as sacred objects, weapons, and gifts.
But I believe they can now be appreciated in a new way—as art for modern living.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, people rarely have the chance to see a Japanese sword up close.
As a result, the focus tends to fall solely on its practical function as a blade—on what it can’t do anymore, or how dangerous it appears.
Through my work, I hope to introduce more people to a lifestyle I call “Living with the Sword”—where a Japanese sword can be displayed like a painting in the home, appreciated as a beautiful work of art.
I want others to discover, as I did, the quiet beauty that a sword can bring into daily life.
And if it is to be displayed in one’s home, I believe it should be presented properly—like in a museum—regardless of room layout or lighting conditions.
That’s why I’ve studied the structure of museum display cases, developing ways to safely store and showcase swords, while also exploring traditional techniques such as urushi lacquer to enhance their aesthetic appeal.
Each day, I continue this pursuit—seeking to reveal the beauty of the Japanese sword in a way that feels right for the present day.
Safety and Handling of the Display Case
Traditional Care Meets Modern Design
Since ancient times, Japanese swords have been carefully stored in yasume-zaya (rest scabbards) and kept in safes or specialized sword chests.
These customs originated partly from the difficulty of controlling temperature and humidity in the past—and even today, they remain widely practiced.
However, with modern advancements in home appliances, maintaining proper indoor environmental conditions has become much easier.
For this reason, our display cases are designed to encourage an intentional “extra step”: placing a humidifier or dehumidifier in the room as needed, and checking the built-in temperature and humidity gauge inside the case to ensure a stable environment.
This process is also meant to foster a deeper, ongoing relationship with the sword—inviting the owner to pay attention to it every day, even if just a little.
That said, sudden humidity changes are still a threat to preservation. To help prevent this, we include humidity-regulating materials inside the case.
Security and Material Considerations
To deter theft and prevent tampering by children, the case is equipped with multiple locks.
The front panel is made of non-reflective acrylic, which blocks 99.9% of harmful ultraviolet rays, protecting your sword from fading and deterioration.
(Acrylic is intentionally chosen over glass to avoid chipping the blade if the tip were to accidentally touch the panel—acrylic is softer and far safer in this regard.)
The base where the blade rests is lined with waterproof, high-cushion sponge rubber.
This reduces the risk of rust at contact points and helps prevent slippage or falls during earthquakes.
In a 2022 joint experiment conducted with Nagoya University, the case successfully protected the blade from falling even during a simulated magnitude 7 earthquake.
What Lies Beyond Display Case Creation
Since ancient times, the Japanese sword has been cherished as a sacred object believed to ward off evil, often displayed with great care in the tokonoma (alcove) of traditional homes.
In recent years, more people—including younger generations like myself, as well as enthusiasts overseas—have begun taking an interest in these swords.
There’s something about simply looking at a Japanese sword that brings a sense of calm and inner strength.
It’s my hope that, like a painting hung on a wall, a sword can become a natural part of someone’s living space, enriching their daily life.
And when a guest visits and says, “Oh, a sword—how beautiful,” it sparks curiosity and appreciation.
Creating those moments of connection would bring me great joy.
At the same time, in this current sword renaissance, there are temples and shrines across Japan that hold important blades but may not have the right environment or knowledge to display them properly.
In such cases, I believe the display cases I create can be of real help.
Japanese swords have been carefully passed down for generations, but if interest in them fades, they may not survive into the future.
My wish is to help preserve as many of these swords as possible, in beautiful condition, for generations to come.
If my cases can play even a small part in that mission, I would be truly honored.
