Story and Visuals by Frank Knight

About 30 minutes outside of Coquille, Oregon, a small wooden marker written in kanji stands at the base of a hill. Another 15 minutes up the rough dirt road nestled amongst the trees of the rugged Oregon coastline sits the home of a modest Japanese swordsmith.

Michael Bell leads the way towards his working facility, the Dragonfly Forge, where he trains around 25 people a year. Students come from all walks of life, with ages varying from 13 to 60 and homes as far away as Europe.

Since 1987, Bell has practiced the art of forging the ancient Japanese swords, katana, at his home in the hills of the Oregon coast. He began learning the art in 1970 during a five year apprenticeship under the master swordsmith, Nakajima Muneyoshi, who Bell calls the “true founder and inspiration for Dragonfly Forge.”

Although he forges in the traditional Japanese style, Bell has adapted his techniques and taken a Northwestern approach to his craftsmanship. In addition to using traditional Japanese steel, oroshigane, he recycles logging cables and artfully crafts them into his high-quality swords.

Bell’s Tomboyama Nihonto Tanren Dojo (the Japanese name for Dragonfly Forge) takes in new and returning students from April to September.  He teaches everyday people the process of basic forging, along with other specialized forms, in a hands-on learning program.