Review – Documentary series: ‘The Sun’s Shadow’.
2024 three-part documentary on the Japanese Sword tradition in the US.
This is certainly not like the usual documentaries about culture and heritage based in Japan, e.g. the ones that National Geographic produce. Neither is it a bite-sized piece in a travelogue episode by a celebrity who happens to be visiting Japan. This is what makes it so intriguing.
With ‘The Sun’s Shadow’, over three episodes, we are introduced to a range of enthusiasts who have pitched their all into their particular shared obsession – the Japanese sword.
Documentary teaser trailer:
What is surprising is that contemporary Japanese sword makers barely feature, these are all Americans. I know that Europeans will raise a quizzical eyebrow at anything the Americans throw themselves into with their body and soul…. I certainly did; but even half way through episode one, I was totally convinced they’d got it right.
Admittedly, this series ticked many of my boxes; not only traditional Japanese martial arts, but Japanese culture, history and the world of crafted bespoke artefacts. I found myself salivating at the lingering shots of antique and contemporary Nihonto, beautiful understated sword furniture and wrappings, yes, sword porn.
Credit: Public domain, detail of Hokusai’s image of a swordsmith, 1802.
But the characters… including grizzled elderly craftsmen, working away in backwoods forges, enthusing about types of steel, temperatures, carbon content and quenching, totally captivating. They were pushing beyond the boundaries that historical Japanese swordsmiths were struggling to reach, even seeming to recreate techniques the Japanese thought had died out centuries ago.
However, this was not approached with Western arrogance, but more with reverence and full respect for what these earlier smiths had achieved.
Two other aspects came over strongly:
Cultural understanding.
The American swordsmiths were not just focussed on the sweat and grind of the forge; they were all clear in their own heads that Japanese culture has a depth that must be really worked at for Westerners to get a grasp of what the real background is.
Swords as practical objects.
Although we are no longer in the age where people swing swords at each other, either one-to-one or in massed armed conflict, a sword loses its identity and status if it is just considered as a decorative artefact, or a historical curiosity. (or even an investment antique). By including in the documentary those individuals who, for various reasons, feel they are custodians of an uninterrupted tradition that includes the art of swordsmanship, this adds real value to the enterprise. It tightly ties the craftsmen of the forge to the craftsmen of the Dojo, in a line that stretches back into history.
What is it with the Westerners?
But here’s the thing; it seems that it is the Westerners who are working the hardest at preserving the arts that are under threat, although the Japanese cultural establishment may not see it that way.
In part, it was explained by Robert Twigger in his book ‘Angry White Pyjamas’ saying that to modern Japanese youngster, things that grandpa used to do, like kendo or kenjutsu, are just not sexy. Sad, but true.
There’s another angle on this. At the back of my mind, I recall a discussion about music, where someone was arguing that white musicians could never do ‘the Blues’. It’s a conversation worth exploring, that might have parallels with the attitude towards non-Japanese plunging deeply into arts that happen to originate in Japan. I have my own thoughts about it, but it’s not for discussion here.
What I really liked about this docuseries was that it didn’t run away from the social media, movies and Manga/Anime aspect of Samurai and Pop Culture. The people involved knew that this particular glitzy hall of mirrors existed; but they didn’t dwell on it. Instead, I think they thought it important to educate the general public on subjects like Shinto and the Japanese cultural fabric. In the series, the greater story is artfully told through the various contributors giving their individual take on Japanese sword culture.
Talking of the contributors; what I really enjoyed was the way that each of them had a personal tale to tell. It very much made us aware of their journey (but I was certain that their lives involved more complexity than there was time available in three episodes).
It was their earnestness and honesty that shone forth (maybe also, based on my observations, Americans are generally untainted by European cynicism. However, I realise that even saying that is a lazy categorisation that US nationals might denounce). Despite their individuality, the contributors each had that particular light in their eyes, one that tends to be a feature of dedicated focussed enthusiasts, operating well beyond the zone of the hobbyist.
Traditional Japanese swordsmith at work.
Credit: https://swordis.com/blog/japanese-swordsmiths/?srsltid=AfmBOooLAH-V8Zm1aZQDU9cxRCjIRfQeHWGK7lbEJGuOA_ch3mlyoJCr
Conclusion.
Looking at the range of contributors and the end credits, it is clear that the driving force behind the project involved a huge collaborative effort, not least the Takamura-ha Shindo Yoshin Ryu and its Kaicho Toby Threadgill Sensei. Full credit for putting it out there.
Rounding off: If you are a complete nut on the subject of Japanese culture, or are really curious about traditional metallurgy and craftsmanship in general, then this series is definitely for you.
I watched it through Amazon (at £1.99 per episode), but I am sure it is available through other platforms.