Kaohsiung blacksmith and street performer makes light-up weapons

Kaohsiung blacksmith and street performer makes light-up weapons

2026-06-30

The lightsabers Jedi wield in Star Wars are legendary weapons. One blacksmith in Kaohsiung has mastered how to craft lightsabers complete with sound and light effects. Chen Yi-chih is a locksmith by profession, but also works as a street performer and blacksmith, and studied Kendo for 40 years. His superior craftsmanship has drawn many Star Wars fans over the years.

Wearing Japanese samurai armor decked out in colorful lights and wielding a lightsaber, this martial artist is a spectacle in the dark.

This is a Kaohsiung street performer named Chen Yi-chih. Not only is he a well-known Kendo performer, but he’s also a skilled blacksmith. The weapons he wields were made with his own two hands.

Chen Yi-chih
Artist
The electronic components including lithium batteries, the circuit board, and speaker need to be soldered in place inside. When lit up, it looks like a real samurai sword, and it even makes that whooshing sound.

Chen grinds the transparent blade, complete with a light strip inside, and uses aluminum tubing to make the sheath. The sword emits neon light, creating dramatic lighting and even sound effects.

Chen is a locksmith by profession, but also works as a street performer and swordsmith. He’s studied Kendo for 40 years.

Chen Yi-chih
Artist
I studied Kendo myself and reached fifth-dan level. But I found swords that light up to be really interesting, so I started learning how to make them myself a few years ago. Lots of cosplayers come and order the type of sword they want. After the design is complete, we will draw it and make a lifelike, one-to-one replica.

After eight years of refining his craft, Chen’s swords now draw people from all over Taiwan, from Star Wars fans to cosplayers looking to upgrade their looks.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#lightsaber #StarWars #samuri #Kendo #martialarts #streetperformer #Kaohsiung #blacksmith #swordsmith

高雄著名"光刀"鍛造師! 好手藝吸引全台愛好者慕名而來

2026-06-30

知名電影星際大戰中，絕地武士手持會發光的光劍，令人印象深刻。在高雄就有名光刀的鍛刀師，他打造出來的光劍聲光效果十足。50歲的陳羿誌本業其實是名鎖匠，但他身兼街頭藝人、鍛刀師等多重身分，學習劍道也已經40年。好手藝也吸引來自全台不少光劍愛好者慕名而來。

一身日本武士盔甲裝扮，全身佈滿七彩燈條，在黑夜中耍著光刀，身手俐落又帥氣。

盔甲底下的真身，是高雄的街頭藝人陳羿誌，經常出沒在各個鬧區進行表演，不只是名劍道的表演工作者，其實就連手中發光的刀具，都是陳羿誌親手打造，而發光的秘密全都藏在劍柄裡。

[[光刀鍛刀師陳羿誌]]
“鋰電池、電路板及喇叭，裡面那些電子元件，要用錫焊焊在裡面。打亮它會很像真的武士刀，它揮也會有那個風切聲。”

打磨透明刀身、安裝光條，不只是刀身，就連刀鞘都能用鋁管打造。完成後的光刀，透出霓虹燈光束質感，不只營造出對戰的光影效果，還有音效。

陳羿誌本業是名鎖匠，但他同時還身兼街頭藝人、鍛刀師等多重身分，學習劍道也已經40年。

[[光刀鍛刀師陳羿誌]]
“本身我有練劍道，我是劍道五段，但是後來覺得發光的光刀光劍，蠻有興趣的，我就在幾年前開始著手研發。COSPLAY很多同好都會來訂製說，他們想要什麼樣的劍，設計圖出來後我們會就幫他畫圖，做成一比一的真實的。”

光刀技術經過八年磨練，好手藝吸引來自全台不少光劍愛好者慕名而來，近年來還有COSPLAY玩家找上門，要將道具再升級，希望成為會場中的焦點。

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