I recently had the opportunity to interview Shibahara-san, former Executive Managing Director of the NBTHK (Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords), for Tokenkai, the official magazine of the All Japan Sword Traders Association. Throughout the interview, I could clearly sense his deep love for Japanese swords and the great satisfaction he felt from having devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Japanese sword community over the past 15 years. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Shibahara-san for his dedicated service and for bringing the NBTHK and our sword traders’ association closer together, working with us in a spirit of unity and cooperation.