Mastering the Craft: Inside Japan's Most Famous Gennou Blacksmith Shop - Doushinsai Masatsura 道心斎 正行

In this video, we visit world famous Gennou (玄能) and Kanazuchi (金槌) blacksmith, Baba Masayuki. He is the blacksmith behind the Doushinsai Masatsura brand from Sanjo, Niigata. We have met with Mr. Baba several times in the past and finally had the opportunity to meet up to make this video.
It was exciting to see how Mr. Baba makes his world-famous hammer heads. His hammers are well balanced and beautifully crafted. It may seem strange to think that a hammer is just a hammer, however, after having used western hammers and Japanese hammers I have learned there is a difference. This difference is really something you need to investigate for yourself. When you swing a hammer to drive a nail or a komisen with an inferior hammer you will immediately tell the difference. I would say that there are a lot of pluses when using a hand forged hammer, but I also believe that western hammers also possess a lot of great qualities. Whether it is titanium handles with steel heads made by Martinez or Stiletto or your trusted Estwing or Stanley metal and wood handled hammers, it is really up to the user what is most comfortable.
A heavy hammer for chiseling is what I prefer. I personally use a 580 grams (or 150匁 (Momme)). However, since this video I have gone on to purchase a heavier Doushinsai Masatsura Gennou head that weighs 744 grams (200匁 (Momme)).
I hope other carpenters out there get the chance to buy a Doushinsai Masatsura hammer as it is a very well made and beautifully crafted tool.
#japanesecarpentry #japaneseblacksmith #japaneseculture #japancraftsman #hammer #carpentry #joinery #carpenter #大工道具 #大工 #玄能 #金槌 #道心斎正行

[@bchdsailor]

Japanese craftmanship is (as I've said before) out of this world

[@erickmendieta6857]

The master is not even bragging, just observing and being amazed at the precision and quality of his job. Truly impressive!

[@JGilbertMetal]

"human intuition is a frightening thing" 14:18 might be my new favorite quote.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Mr. Baba is a MACHINE! I agree with him 100%: making by hand puts the spirit of the craftsman into the tool, and that spirit inspires anyone that uses the tool. Huge respect.

[@WhoTakesAllMyAcNames]

What a treat it would be to apprentice under him

[@gkanderson92]

Thanks for bringing us a video of a great japanese craftsman. His work is absolutely amazing. I would be honored to have such a great piece of art.

[@raytheron]

What a treasure! I wish I could own one of his hammers!

[@kahlen109]

Hey, thank you for all of these videos. They've really kickstarted my interest in japanese style woodworking, and I don't think I would've looked into it if I hadn't found your channel, so thank you very much!

[@mateipetresergiu5795]

Super Maistru !Sayonara for Video Mr !

[@Nobe_Oddy]

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@charlesballiet7074]

wow first time ive seen someone forge weld a hardened face onto a hammer before

[@17penobscot]

Always look forward to your videos, thank you for a look into a true craftsman world.

[@nuckleb464]

This is Art

[@BeachsideHank]

I have seen in a video the securing of a knife handle for a Barong Machete using plastic grocery bags. The hole is initially sized using the tang itself after being heated red hot and impressed, the resulting mortise is then stuffed with remnants of the bag until tightly filled and the tang reheated and inserted into the handle. Once cooled it is amazingly solid and firmly embedded, never to slip out. I have used this hack on shop-made file handles, and they are fused solid to the tang- you always learn something new and useful even if the idea comes at you from halfway around the world. ☺

[@cedrics1220]

Awesome, yet again! These craftsmen are just beyond amazing.

[@mikedecker9987]

Thank you for the videos you make. I really enjoy and learn a lot from them. I have become somewhat obsessed with Japanese tools lately and now have 3 of Mr. Baba’s and cherish and enjoy using them greatly. Thank you for introducing these fascinating blacksmiths from all over Japan.

[@thecarpentrylife]

Glad you like them!

[@axelurbanski2828]

Great blacksmith and nice Hammer. Thx for video. I share with a friend he is a german blacksmith and musican..

[@okgroomer1966]

He's a old sh!t talker and I love it.

[@georgewashington92]

What worries be a bit is the old age of these guys regardless of what they produce. I'm glad this one has a young apprentice

[@charliekingpin8568]

As usual great vodeo and you ask all the right questions

[@peterpan7903]

His sense of proportion was really impressive. I wondered how he does it with the exact position for the hammer grip, without measuring. But as you have seen, a trained eye is very precise. But I have also experienced similar surprising precision from other craftsmen here in Europe. The only thing that surprises me is how the handles of the hammers hold without wedging. Normally the recess for the hammer handle is a bit larger at the top and the wedge that is driven into the handle from above causes the handle to spread in the hammer head.

[@DirtyRobot]

50 years

[@Octopusbeak]

If the handle wood is super dry when fitted, and tight as well, the return to normal humidity really secures it. Also the wood end protruding through can be dampened and peened over a little.

[@peterpan7903]

@@Octopusbeak I don't really believe that. I'm sure they have another trick to fix the handles reliably. No handle has ever held in a hammer or hoe without a positive fit or other reliable fastening.

[@Octopusbeak]

@@peterpan7903 you'll find the same info on page 164 of "japanese woodworking tools, their spirit, tradition, and use" by toshio odate. I hung three japanese hammer heads ten year ago by this method and they're still stuck. I've failed to secure several heads in the same time (wedged or not) due to not drying the wood enough. Right below the cross section of the wedgeless head in toshio's book is a section of a head with two wedges ;)

[@disqusrubbish5467]

@@peterpan7903 In Japan less expensive hammers have the handles fixed with wedges. At this level they expect you to make and fit your own handle without wedges. They don't even come with wedges.

[@Onionbaron]

The power of talent and muscle memory!!!

[@mg3289]

Your videos are the soul. With romantic deep ;). I like it! 👍

[@homjay2448]

Merci pour cette extraordinaire partage.

[@ludvigtande1236]

He’s a great craftsman. Awesome❤

[@ducthman4737]

This is why tools made this way last forever.

[@maynard4599]

I've been enjoying your channel, thank you. Would you ever do a tour of your tool belt setup or your tool collection? Thanks.

[@thecarpentrylife]

Maybe in the future.

[@cavemanballistics6338]

Beautiful work.

[@samueledebartolo3609]

Excellent! I likes this video!

[@DH-.]

Office chair is ergonomic

[@djburnard]

Thanks!

[@thecarpentrylife]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@NSResponder]

Absolutely beautiful work.

[@tysontuki1410]

A tool made by a master for a master

[@FeefailsGetDecapitated]

I want to work here!! You are HAND some 😍

[@nickmolloy9563]

Damn. Every time you do a video of beautiful hand crafted tools in cost me money. I have one Japanese hammer but now I need a couple more. The heavy barrel shaped ones are great. Is that equivalent to a small hand sledge hammer? Thanks so much. Great vid. Honour to be allowed to use his power hammer.

[@R2robot]

Amazing!

[@axelwannberg5474]

Great video!! May I ask what wood is used in the handle? Cherry?

[@thecarpentrylife]

The wood was Japanese Cherry.

[@StealthNinja4577]

I'm a lazy normie but I love these hand crafted tools. I'd love to own a set of his hammers.

[@disqusrubbish5467]

Is the cap he puts on the head harder or softer than the rest? Harder I presume.

[@Bakhamaster001]

Жапондар өте ұста ға берілген әдемілеп мықты ғып жасалған күшті

[@blairbarrington3737]

Thanks for posting this. Why the pointed end opposite the poll on the funate hammers?

[@thecarpentrylife]

The pointed end is used for driving in finishing nails.

[@MrJcTTK]

Now if there was only a way to order one online. Or are you able to visit a store he has in Japan to get one?

[@thecarpentrylife]

Check out these videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF6ZgnmOrqyHn80 kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3PSf5d_nNWNgZo These stores carry Doushinsai Masatsura. One store has an online store that ships internationally.

[@DeweyBlanton-ku7db]

At 19:17 the hammer on the far left. What is it called or used for?

[@thecarpentrylife]

It's called Funate. It's a hammer that is meant for driving nails. Finish carpenter have them. It is hard to use, because the point is very small. But with practice you can improve your accuracy.

[@DeweyBlanton-ku7db]

@@thecarpentrylife a old biker friend that has passed gave it to me when he retired from bodywork. It looks old. Has a number on it but I'd have to dig it out and look. But thnx for the response.

[@lucasrenfrow3916]

kzbin.infoykDAzeZau4k?si=1MMsmchFxjgkH98H Looks like this channel is using footage from this video

[@varun009]

Even their tongs are beautiful. A culture with a true appreciation for iron and unfortunately an insane number of war crimes under it's belt.