I recall reading some vol a long time ago but I figured that it had been dropped due to lack of updates which is sadly the fate of many long manga series however, I noticed some new updates on MU and I'm glad it's back now.

The stories are a little episodic about Akira talking about swords and a new troubled local sword appearing each time but it's unique in how the manga-ka adds a lot of historical knowledge about the sword and area for each story. The scanlators did a great job of adding TN on each related section so outsiders can get a good understanding of the meaning of the event.

Although the art is a little retro compared to the modern-day manga it's still pretty clean and pleasant to read each vol.

i remember read few volume decades ago, idk that this is still ongoinggg.. i love this btw

I finished reading this story at 5 in the morning and sleepy just cannot express what I'm feeling right now. But, surprisingly, the story is not bad for a sleepy kid. I thought that I was going to be bored somehow but I DIDN'T. The story is very interesting and I can't imagine what I would say if I'm reading this when I'm wide awake...

Reminds me of Natsume Yuujinchou or Moyashimon Tales of Agriculture with a little PuppetMaster Sakon. Quite good, didn't think I would enjoy it but after the 1st chapter I got hooked. Sad that the translator for abyss had to drop out. Really nice little short stories doesn't really drag & has some quirkyness to it. Great read if you enjoy Moyashimon Tales of Agriculture or Natsume Yuujinchou

Nice manga, nice atmosphere. I stumbled on this one searching for something similar to Natsume Yuujinchou and I was not disappointed. The characters and the folklore are interesting.
And yet! No more scanlations. I'll just wait until there is a team to pick it up.

I absolutely love this one! The story is different and very absorbing. I love the characters, and the way the story is put together. Different than others. which is so great. The art is a little different too, and I also like that. I can't wait for the next volume. This one is a must read. The scan people need to do more of this one so those who don't read Japanese can enjoy more of it. Better yet, the publishers need to get on the ball here. Why isn't this one out in English?! This is better than most of the ones that are. I'd love to have my friends read this one, but none of them read Japanese like I do.

... Last updated on August 25th, 2010, 11:46pm

Really cool, interesting manga about katanas. Not about swordfighting but about smithing or sharpening swords. Not really horror, nothing that is so scary about the manga. You can learn different informations about katanas from this manga!

Not really liking the art work but the story line is a refreshing change of pace from what I'm used to. A decent story, pick it up if you want a break from generic Shounens.

a manga that focus about sword sharpening? well i can say that this is new. Not to scary for a horror genre. The art is good, the story is easy to follow, and a refreshing thing to read.

The theme is quite original, the plot develops as short stories, quite interesting each one of them by themselves. Surely the ability Akira has isn't that original, but the way he deals with it makes it different in a way.
The art style is quite different to the ones you would find in shounen mangas, and more close to seinen/josei, well, the author is female after all, but I took quite a liking to it.
So, sharpening is touching a katana's soul, that is what Akira does. And as a reader, I enjoy reading about it.