Becoming a Samurai in One Day – Tokyo Katana Training | Japan Vlog
In the heart of Tokyo, I’m about to step into a samurai’s world. Starting with a traditional kimono robe, I’ll learn real sword handling, practice zen to focus my mind, and put everything to the test with a katana strike on a target. It’s not just a costume. It’s a training tradition and glimpse into Japan’s warrior past. Let’s begin. All right, here we are at our authentic samurai experience. We have just arrived. This is feeling the samurai soul. Please come in. Domo. Yes. All right. We’ll take off the shoes. Here we are. The site experience. Hello. Hello. Nice to meet you. Yes. My name is Yusuke. Yusuke. Alex. Alex. story. Absolutely. So, first step is changing clothes into kimono. I come up can pick up any. Okay. Do we from here? Okay. You can step. All right. Do we wear our our bottoms? Do we take take those off as well? Uh it’s up to you actually. Okay. Got you wear on your tops and then put it over. Okay. Then the tops belt. Pants. Okay. Tops. Pants. Yes. stops at the belt. Oh, belt and then belt. All right. Okay. I have you ready. All right. So, as soon as you come in, you have different traditional samurai kimonos that he lays out with different styles. So, you pick out the one you want and then he helps you get dressed. There’s a lot of intricate tying and knots and things like that. So, it’s definitely not like a one-man job, but yeah, uh so far, uh arriving here was really, really easy. He has a a house right off the main street. And, uh man, this place definitely just has a great atmosphere for authentic samurai experience. So, let’s see. Yes. All right. Ready to get dressed up? Yeah. So, have you ever tried before? No. No. Yes. First time. I picked a color that looked like yours. That way people will think I’m like [Music] [Music] All right, I have my traditional samurai outfit. They probably didn’t wear baseball hats, but that’s okay. I still feel very authentic. They didn’t offer any bandanas, but feel very at peace. And uh yeah, it definitely was not uh an easy process to get them all tied. I just wore the t-shirt I was wearing. Um, and then my jeans. I just put everything over. Um, there really wasn’t a easy spot to change your pants. Um, there is a bathroom, but And there is a bathroom upon arrival, so if you need to arrive and go straight to the bathroom, that’s okay. Yeah, I uh I’ve seen people wear these for pictures, but man, they’re actually really comfortable. Thank you. Uh here is today’s vagasham in Japan. Kashmi sweets. Have you tried the mochi? You like mochi? It’s okay. Yeah. So this is a kind of moi and we call the yongi moi. Yumongi is Japanese her. So it’s good for the like the green color is from the house. Inside is a paste and the outside is a rice cake. [Music] I feel like I had this from a street vendor. Tastes much better here. It’s like a red bean paste with like a matcha or rice cake. Rice bread. your timing and then uh when you finish everything we make the slip sound that means I finish everything. So it’s not rude the making the sound the during the eating in Japan. Uh but the elegant sound is much better. Elegant sound like it’s good rotate twice. [Music] So you don’t drink any as part of the the host doesn’t drink part of the service. Usually host doesn’t drink. Oh interesting. Just only for hosting the guest. Yeah. Don’t be sad. Yeah. Beautiful. Oh yeah. Thank you. The taste is okay. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Very fresh. Actually, so we have many many many glaze. Matcha glaze. Yeah. Perfect. Yeah. So and so much them in one katana. part is not test for you okay so please don’t feel pressure but I want to remember only three parts for the practice of today the first is the sky sky is grip handle second is solar protection your finger last one say is a case okay I want you remember okay not so difficult Is these real or are they dull or real one? Real one. Yes. Okay. So, I’m going to show you the real sword first. Okay. So, this is a so real one. Very sharp one. So, this is ska sa. Yeah, it’s not so difficult. Okay. So this one actually is very sharp. So I close it. So but I want you remember the weight of this sword first. Okay. From so are they all the same length? Uh different actually. So this is all the handmade. The all katana has different the character. Then so the history in Japan is is over thousand years and depend on each era they had a different fighting style and then depend on fighting style also the situation of the piece or not the langus and the heaviness and the cabinness also different. So this is uh the coffee from the the end of ed period. So actually so uh real sword and then traditional one and made by the craftsman the modern craftsman before 20 years ago but the the authentic style one. So thank you. Thank you so much. It’s okay. Yes. He heavy heavy. How much would this cost? Ah good question. I always say you can buy one car, one sword. You can choose. The price is like a car. So like I used to use the car or to the new Ferrari and very different but uh so it’s not so cheap actually. It’s like $5 from Yeah. Yeah. So actually this is a 500 500,000 yen. $3,300. Is it cheaper or not? $3,300. Cheaper. A cheap sword in America. Oh, really? I don’t know. So, $3,000 sounds like a okay price. Okay price. Okay. Okay. And this is the second one. So over this is over 90 years ago was made. So the copy of the middle age of Edo period but after your practice you can use this katana for target. Please remember thank you. Yes actually I’m I’m using the sharp stone. Oh wow. Then yes. So this also need to get the Oh no no no no no. Oh, it’s okay. Yeah. Very very sharp one. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So, okay. Okay. She must that was the goal not go back with all the practice step before going to practice step. uh more sos here the for the practice actually. So this is waiting for the blue in the winter cold this season is patience. Okay, it’s now uh time to pick up. But this is the longest heaviest and this is these two are shorter than regular regular four. Pick up please. [Music] So we are martial artist Roses today then of samurai today the we start the practice step with a bow then and during the bow we speak one Japanese phrase so would you mind try to speak Japanese is okay [Music] so let’s make it simple Okay. Yes. Means nice to like nice like a nice to meet you. So nice to Yes. Easier. Very good. Very good. Means please. Sorry. Please. Please. So when you go to the restaurant, so start coming. So please like this. So yes, perfect. Okay, I say please say together with me. So next is the breathing. Okay, breathe out through your mouth. Breathe in through your nose again. Breathe out. Breathe out as long as I’m breathing. Okay. Breathe out. Okay. Please imagine your brea going to deeply glance through your soul, through your body. Yeah. Breathe in through your soul. Results. Okay. Deep breathing is deep breathing is very important. Calming the mind. Okay. Hand is around your wrist now. And please put up pure water from the earth to the head with your hands up. Then water pouring into your body through your head. And the water going back to the earth with the hands down. There’s a cleaning inside of yourself. So water cleans inside of you. The hands down. Return to normal positions. Thank you. Thank you for following my step. Uh feel good. Is it okay? Yeah. Okay. So, this is good for calming the mind also controlling the energy. So, I hope you enjoy this. Thank you. Don’t. Okay. So, let’s get next step. Hold your sword, please. Oh, sorry. Okay, that’s perfect. So, right hand show your palm to front with my hand. Okay, the keep your finger up. Okay, then the thumb going to underneath. Okay, the other finger is touching inside of the ska inside. Okay, not the outside. Okay, inside the the thumb is underneath. All right. And from here, out your katana. Out your katana. Okay. Then push back your sia. Yes. Then after this hold this way. H we learn about how to return back into the sia now. Okay. So uh after battle we want the battle. So we got the blood here. So we need to clean it. Clean the blade like this. Yes. Okay. Good. Good. After this the hold the sia with left hand. Okay. So the left hand the hold the sia then but like a cover the hole. Okay. With your thumb uh with your thumb and the index finger. So hold like this to cover the hole. Cover the hole almost to cover the hole. Okay. And then make it straight and put onto the thumb and index finger. Okay. Between thumb and first index finger. Okay. And this moment the edge is up. The edge is up. Okay. The edge lose down. Uh this lose your finger. Okay. Okay. Okay. So this way. Okay. Open right hand. Open your right hand. Okay. Forward. Thr forward. Thread it forward. Yes. And after this push down your side. Then you can adjust the position and the angle say and uh say and the katana. Okay. Here. So back into the half first the support with sa support. Support. Supported. Yes. You turn back everything and push inside. Then normal position. Okay. Stand shoulder wise first again and right foot forward and out your katana and hold with both hands. This is 200. So right hand top and left hand down. Yes. Okay. Hold in front of you. Okay. Good. Okay. So this is seam actually basic. Okay. most of so basic kamay and next switch your legs and put your saw onto your head. This is jordan kamay upper posing. Yes, good. Okay, good. Next, switch your legs. Put your soul lower. So, height of your knee and this is ganuk lower positions. Okay. Next, switch your Rex again. Put your soul right side of you. So, this is a hustle. We called it a protection your head to the neck. Yes. Okay. Good. Yes. Okay. So then uh we learn about how to handle the the body in this martial from this posing. Okay. Switch your legs first and hand up. Hand up. Just hand up and slash right to the left diagonally. Diagonally. Yes. Good. Okay. Again. Switch back here. Switch your X up your sword. Hand up. Thrush right to the left. Very good. Okay. Again, just little bit quicker. Switch and thrush. Yes. Very good. Thank you. This is a basic actually. Uh we use the same side shoulder knee step forward together like this. So we don’t use like this basically. So off the balance. Okay. So and uh so we want to use the whole body for attacking. So in case you step this way, so you can use like this. So you can use whole body. So that’s why this is basic. Okay. Is okay. Yeah. So we have two more combination today. Okay. Not too much. No, it’s okay. All right. So again, ho and switch your legs. Thrash right to the left. Okay. Now you’re standing right forward. Put your sword on right knee this way. Simply simply uh right knee. Yeah. Right knee. Yes. Yes. And then so yes, that’s good. Okay. This is the waiting attack from the enemy. The enemy’s attack coming to your head. We need to avoid first with switch. Sway back with left foot. Sway back and hand up. Sore down. Then step just back. Yes. Okay. Good. Uh Ethan and little bit the other way. Okay. Yeah. Right hand. Right hand top. Right hand top. Right hand. Right hand. Hold. Hold. Hold. Yes. This way. And this way. Yes. Just up your head. Yes. That’s good. Okay. Okay. Good. So, this is Okay. This is like a kind of the party and not only for the broking. This is a broken sword. But here the sword will be stripped down with your sword at the same time. This is good for the counter. So like up up up. Yes, that’s good. Okay. Okay. Okay. So next is a counter. From here just switch your legs the sword going to right behind. Right behind and thrash left to the right. Left to the right like a draw the circle. Like a draw the circle again. Right foot forward. Right foot forward. Sway back. Protect your head. Switch your legs. Thrash left to the right. Yes. again. Okay. Here. Sway back. Protect your head. Switch and thrash this to the right. Yes. Yes. Yes. Getting smooth. Okay. Okay. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] You’re good started making the sound now. But you start. Yeah. Starting from the shoulder actually. So starting more higher, please. I want to try. Yes. Yes. Okay. Like this. Show me. Show me. More high. More high. Much higher. Yes. Okay. Very good. Okay. Nice. Very good. Thank you. You’re getting very good. Okay. Yeah. Okay. You got the skill for the thrushing target. H. Please trust uh yourself. The confidence very important. Trust yourself. Okay. And secondary calm mind very important. Too much excited, too much get nervous, no good. So get calm mind. So can cut easily. All right. Good. Yes. Good. Okay. Right. And let’s move to the garden now. And leave your sword uh in the loom, please. Uh this is tatamimat today’s target. We we need to soak into the water over three days. So that’s why getting wet. The sunlight is coming here. So I recommend you starting this way and this will be little bit too much shiny. So here and from here this way and right foot forward. Come from right foot forward. Hold your sod up directionction thrush. Here is like this. Here like this. Okay. So after enough practice. Okay. Get closer. Too much far close. No good. After practice get closer. Touch the target. Hold your sword up and action. Thank you. Like this. Sharp. Yeah. It’s okay. Pretty sharp. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. It’s simple. Okay. Then trust trust my sword, please. Okay. Please. Okay. Try practice several times. Yes. Forward. Right foot forward. Yes. Higher. Higher. Yes. Up to down. Very good. Okay. You ready? Ready. Touch the target. Get closer. Yes. There. Okay. Go ahead. A nice just a moment. Let’s see what’s happen. Oh, good. Uh you’re cross range fighting. So you didn’t cut this way but cut this way. So uh you can cut more uh step forward. Step closer. One step closer. You’re in fighter. So touch the target again. More step closer. Okay. Yes. The aim more top. Aim more top. Okay. Good. Yes. Try it. You cut the same step corsa. [Music] Very clean. Okay. Okay. Okay. [Applause] One more. Glor. Nice fishing. Fish. Nice fishing. Finishing. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Good. So, uh, thank you so much for practice. How do you feel? Good. Is it great? Yeah. Power battle. Yeah. Thank you. I show you my performance now. Okay. Just a moment, please. This is for fighting style. The sleeve is no good for painting. Actually, I pray the food as starting performance. As an Asian sam used to pay the food also at the ritual, I’ll pray the food first. Oh, Hello. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. Run. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Laughter] Hello. [Music] Hello. [Applause] [Music] Thank you so much. Thank you so much for watching. This is my performance of today. H So this is uh not only for the thrushing but also moving with licking invis enemy. So in the imagination. So Every attack is counter like I told in a picture time protect and attack like this. So uh this is everything in this experience today. Hope you enjoy here today. Thank you so much for joining. All right. I’m here in Tokyo, Japan with the best experience. If you want to feel like a samurai, you need to book an experience with Feel Samurai Soul. This is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity where you get to have a whole 2 and 1/2 hour class where you get to see what it’s like to be a samurai. You get to learn how to fight with a sword and you get to actually use it. So, this experience was once in a lifetime. I’ve wanted to do it ever since I planned my trip to Japan. So, if you want to book this experience, you can go into the description of the YouTube video and I’m going to put his Instagram handle. So, make sure and book the best experience in all of Tokyo, Japan. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right, we just finished the ultimate experience in Tokyo. This is a samurai soul class. And man, it is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. So much fun, so much authenticity. If you want the most authentic Tokyo experience, this is it right here. Oh man. I’m going to put the link in the description. You definitely want to book this class when you get here and make sure and do it in advance because they do sell out. Oh, love it. [Music]
Train like a real samurai in Tokyo — wear a traditional kimono, learn katana techniques, and dive into Japanese culture through a powerful hands-on experience. In this Japan vlog, I take on the ultimate samurai training experience in Tokyo. From sipping matcha in a calming tea ceremony to putting on a full kimono and learning how to wield a katana sword in a real dojo, this is a deep cultural journey — not a tourist gimmick. It’s discipline. Focus. Precision. And yes — they handed me a real katana and told me to slice through a target.
But before that? I had to earn it.
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⏰ TIME CODES:
00:00 – Intro
0:22 – Welcome to Feeling Samurai Soul
1:31 – Kimono Experience
3:38 – Matcha Moments
6:58 – Learning about Japanese Swords
11:09 – Training Preparation
15:14 – Sword Performance
24:39 – Slash Straw by Real Sword
29:06 – The Master’s Showcase
33:39 – Outro
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If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to try this exact samurai experience, I’ve linked it below — trust me, it’s unforgettable.
https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/79594
📍 Japan Travel Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpyxDdDV8rX7fszeCW-a9DHumYFt3Z4vX
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