About Wally

Wally Hostetter and his wife Donna are true lovers of Japanese culture. Living in the tranquility of rural Florida, they have surrounded themselves with Japanese gardens and bonsai gardens as well as a traditional Japanese Teahouse and Bathhouse. In addition to being a sword maker, Wally restores Japanese antiques like Tansu and any type Japanese lacquerware.

Wally has been collecting swords since 1995, when he first became interested in martial arts. He learned how to forge blades from Don Fogg and Stephen Schwarzer. As nothing more than a hobby he started making swords, doing his own repair work, and was quickly asked by other, to do the same for them. It’s now his full time career, and he loves it!

Wally has worked with Japanese sword lovers and martial arts practitioners worldwide. Some of his local clients include:

• Troy Baxley President of the Florida Token Kai
• Bob Elder Owner of East Coast Martial Arts Supply
• Students and friends of Toyama Batto Jitsu U.S. Federation

Schwarzer Poem

The Samurai’s Clothes
A look at ancient tradition
Traditions for its own sake
Something like a stone garden
Thousands of small stones raked in little rows
To what end
Just to start and rake again
For traditions sake
Move every leaf
To its proper form
A measured step
A slow turn
Like a drip of water
Falling down
Cool thoughts of a land gone bye
A puff of breeze wets the eye
The ruffle of starched hakama
The geta makes a slow march
Echo each step in the court yard
The new old one slowly approaches
The tatami all in rows
The quick sound of iron on wood
The wind on the blade makes a sound understood
The cut so quick and pure of form
Like a fan of steel attached to an arm
The tatami parts like a smile
As it slowly falls to the tile
The blade recoils like a snake
All sinew and muscle back in place
The cut was good
Perfect in form
The sword has become part of his arm
A slow smile comes to his face
Something that comes from honoring this place
Raking the rocks and a slow pace
Tending the plants
Feeding the fish