Concentration

Today, I visited Doi-san’s workshop. It’s been a while, and the scent of charcoal felt nostalgically comforting. As I approached the furnace, I saw Keijoro-san in the midst of quenching some knives. Flames danced above the furnace, casting an ethereal blue-white and red glow. It was like witnessing a sunset, as the red-hot knives emerged from the furnace and plunged into the water below. Quenching may sound like a ‘sizzle,’ but it’s more of a deep ‘swoosh’ sound. It’s the moment when a blade ‘becomes.’ Keijoro-san seemed completely absorbed in his work, perhaps unaware of my presence. He was deeply focused, maybe even performing the quenching process for white steel blades. With such a narrow temperature range for quenching, there’s no room for error. It was a scene filled with tension, reminding me of the importance of being present at the workshop rather than just sitting in front of a computer all day!

Hibishugyo

• 2009-03-19