Professor Roger Reed, Director of Next Generation Tatara Co-Creation Centre (NEXTA) visited the Nittoho Tatara adjacent to the Torigami charcoal pig iron squared furnace in Okuizumo, Shimane Prefecture from 31 January to 1 February. The traditional Tatara, which produces steel from iron and charcoal with a clay-made furnace is said to be the origin of the manufacturing industry in the prefecture, and the name of the method was adopted to the Next Generation Tatara Co-Creation Centre. This Tatara method has been developed in the Shimane area for over 1,000 years, especially to make the fine steel called ‘Tamahagane’, the material for Japanese swords. The Tatara iron making is now conducted in Shimane three times a year. This time, Professor Reed observed the traditional method with Dr. Sato Koji, President & CEO of Hitachi Metals, Ltd. and Dr. Hattori Yasunao, President of Shimane University, asking numerous questions to Murage, the masters of Tatara.
    In addition to the Tatara visit, Professor Reed attended a meeting with the NEXTA members at Shimane University and had a luncheon meeting with the students who will be sent to the University of Oxford in August this year. He also visited the Itohara Memorial and Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine on the next day, as one of his cultural experiences in Shimane. NEXTA will continue to work on strengthening the good relationship with our Director and the University of Oxford.
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    From left to right, Murage, Reed, Hattori, and Sato                      Tatara furnace and the flame      

     
    At the NEXTA meeting                                                                   Reed with the students and their supervisors                                 

                                     
                                     At the Itohara Memorial                                Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine