Motohara Review

In our Evolution blades Motohara review we take a close look at what to expect from this innovative South Korean company who specialize in high quality, custom made martial arts grade Katana made using modern steels and modern methods.

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Evolution Blades Motohara Review

Review by SBG member Bradc

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I not so recently purchased a custom Motohara Katana from Evolution Blades based on recommendations on this forum. Now that I have had a chance to use the sword for 6 months it’s time for a review.

As background I practice Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido. The school I practice in does not include Tameshigiri in the curriculum so my review is purely from the kata training perspective. There are many cutting reviews out there so I will refer you to them for comments on those aspects.

Now back to the sword…

So what was I looking for in a sword? Mainly very specific dimensions. In our school we use short tsuka and longer blades which is a very rare combo in production swords. I am also pretty demanding on tsukamaki and general build quality. I wanted a serious training tool that posed no risk of spontaneous mid seminar failure.

Based on recommendations here I started talking with Jason at Evolution blades and soon I parted with $2,050 (half down, half before shipment, in summer 2019) and the short (but felt eternal) 8 week wait began. 

The ordering process was all handled via Facebook messenger up until emails with the invoices and final details.  Motohara has no catalogue per se, but Jason shared a large number of options around Koshirae, ito types, and blade steels. Some options add to the base cost such as emperor nodes, silver fittings, same on saya etc...  You can also peruse their Facebook page to see their many options.  Jason was very helpful and was quick to answer my many many questions.

Full Disclosure

I commissioned this sword with my own money in L6 as I figured it would have better resale value for the trendy steel if I didn’t like it. Thankfully that didn’t turn out to be a problem.

Initial Impressions

Wow! Fit and finish far exceeded my expectations.
Came with a nice reinforced sword bag.

Statistics

• Nagasa Length: 2.45 shaku (74 cm)
• Tsuka Length: 8.5 sun (25.5 cm)
• POB (Point of Balance): 12.7 cm from tsuba
• Motohaba/Sakihaba: 33/28 mm
• Motokasane/Sakikasane: 6.5/5.5 mm
• Kissaki: Chu (4.5cm)
• Weight: 1080 grams

Components

The Blade

2.45 shaku shinogi-zukuri with chu kissaki (4.5cm) made with L6 tool steel.

Geometry is Motoharas “General Purpose” cutter. I was looking for something a bit modern in design but not quite a mat cutter style. This works for me.

L6 steel as used by Motohara shows a simple suguha hamon.  Examination under various lighting angles confirms it's a real hamon, albeit different in appearance from both traditional carbon steels and Hanwei L6 blades (very different treatment, Hanwei are Bainite this is not). The surfaces are all smooth, lines are sharp, and the polish is well done, albeit more of a tameshigiri than art polish. The attention to detail is high, for example the mune burnishing transitioning away from mirror to a more matte appearance at the kissaki.
The yokote is crisp and easy to feel. For this price point I see no flaws.

The Tsuka

I absolutely love the tsuka on this sword. Motohara far exceeded my expectations here. The tsukamaki does not move. The silver fuchi/kashira have great detail. The menuki (anyone recognize them?) are fun, and the tsukamaki is perfectly spaced around them. The leather ito is high quality and very comfortable now that is it broken in. The same (with emperor nodes) has a nice counterstain which looks great.

The Tsuba

Fan theme. The Iron has some texture so it doesn’t look like a smooth plate cut out. (I mean that in the good way)

Fuchigashira

Silver fittings described above.
Here is a closer look at the Kashira.

Saya

Gloss black with Same. Shipped with a standard synthetic sageo which is still in it’s bag. Sageo in pictures is silk from Seido Shop. Lacquer is well applied and consistently smooth.

The habaki fit is just right with enough tension to keep the sword in place exactly as it should. No rattles even with fast Noto, and no sawdust comes out after practice (no rubbing).

Handling Characteristics

The handling of this sword is excellent. The balance point is right at the koshi, exactly where it should be, and the blade feels nimble and far lighter than the 1080 grams would imply. I hardly notice the extra weight in regular use compared to my ~800 gram Iaito. The yokote is exactly where I wanted it and I can feel the edge which is important for several waza. The tsuka length is just right for me, most production swords have tsuka too long for the style I practice so it’s refreshing to not need to consider shortening.  The tsuka, while a bit fatter than Japanese ones fits my hands perfectly.

Conclusion

PROS

• The sword exactly fit my specification, everything measures as expected and promised.
• The blade is well made, smooth surfaces abound. I am very happy with this.
• The sword is perfectly balanced and feels light in the hand over hours of practice.
• Tsukamaki is as good as any I have handled. The leather ito is very comfortable once broken in.
• The fittings are of great quality, with sharp details, and the overall fit and finish is fantastic for this price point. I am hard pressed to find a flaw.
• If the blade ever were to bend during cutting, Jason has promised to replace the blade. I will likely never use this option (due to my focus on kata use) but the confidence and willingness to stand behind the product is noted.

CONS

If I am going to be picky..

The tsuka is a bit thicker than a standard Japanese made tsuka. This is not actually a con for me as it fits my hands perfectly, but those with smaller hands should consider this.

If you are looking for an art polish and high activity hamon that isn’t what you will get here (and was never promoted as such). I should note that Motohata does offer an SK3 steel sword with choji hamon, it was just a little out of the budget this time. The polish is perfectly acceptable and there are no flaws, given the purpose of this blade as a training tool it’s just right in my opinion.

The Bottom Line

I couldn’t be happier with this sword and I am seriously considering another. Maybe I need a daisho? Perhaps something with a fancy hamon. This hobby is tough on the bank account.... Another practitioner in my ryu ha has already ordered (and received) a Motohara, and I wholeheartedly recommend the brand to any sword arts practitioner. Heck I recommend my exact sword, they could make it for you.

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I hope the Motohara review has been helpful. To return to the Ultimate Guide to Authentic Japanese Swords from Motohara Review, click here