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2026 Informasia lectures
2026 INFORMASIA PRESENTATIONS January - December 2026
Informasia #1, January 19, 2026
Paul Martin
An Introduction to the Beauty of Japanese Swords
Vimeo video: posted after the lecture
Audio: posted after the lecture
Paul Martin (thejapanesesword@gmail.com)
An introduction to Japanese swords as art. The sword has been an integral part of Japanese culture since earliest times, included among burial goods along with other sacred items. Swords continue to be devoted to shrines as vessels in which for the patron deities to reside, or for spiritual protection. Although it is fundamentally a weapon,
they were the least used item within the warriors arsenal. This talk introduces the sword from its spiritual roots and influence on Japanese culture, its development as a weapon, and its unique aspect as fine art.Paul Martin's publications include:
Japanese Swords and Armor, Paul Martin. Tuttle 2024, (Also in Italian, French, Spanish, (and Taiwanese 2026) Nuinui)
Hidden Treasures of Samurai Art, Ogawa Morihiro (Trans, Paul Martin) 2023. NHK Shuppan
NHK Shumi Doki! Token Lovers Tankyu, Paul Martin 2023, NHK Shuppan
NHK Shumi Doki! Token Lovers Nyumon, Paul Martin 2022, NHK Shuppan
Masterpiece Swords, Sacred Treasures and Ritual Implements of Nikko Futarasan-Jinja
Shrine, Edited by Ogawa Morihiro (Trans, Paul Martin) 2020, Futarasan Jinja/Sogeisha.Swords of Kyoto (Special Exhibition): Master Craftsmanship from an Elegant Culture. Kyoto National Museum
(Trans, Paul Martin and Melissa M Rinne [Kyoto National Museum], 2018, Kyoto National MuseumPaul Martin is a former curator in the Japanese section at the British Museum, London. He holds an M.A. in Asian Studies (Japan) from the University of Berkeley, California, and has resided in Japan working as a Japanese sword specialist for over twenty years. He is a regular presenter of swords on NHK E-Tele and NHK World. He is also a trustee of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture (NBSK), a recognized specialist by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Tourism and Transport, and has produced several books and DVDs on Japanese swords.
Paul Martin comes to Informasia through his presentation to the Yokosuka Council on Asian Pacific Studies (YCAPS) on July 29, 2025.
His website: https://www.thejapanesesword.com/
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