A katana is a sword or longsword traditionally used by Japanese Samurai Warriors. The katana was usually paired with a shorter version called a wakizashi, and another even shorter version called the tanto. For the Samurai, katanas represented their social rank and individual honor, and the forging and wearing of such swords was taken very [...]

Learn the basic cutting concept that most sword styles have in common. The technique is pretty much the same whether you are striking different variations of angles, grips and body positions. The proper angle of your wrists in line behind the handle of the handle gives you precise control of your sword. The [...]

Samurai swords can be both ornamental and functional by purpose. There are some people who love to collect swords and keep them around the house in safe box frame. For those of you who desire to learn the ancient martial arts provided you practice extreme caution. Swords can fatally injure when improperly [...]

A samurai sword restored to its finest glory stands as a piece of art. From its shining Saya to the gleam of its polished blade, it holds the spirit of the Samurai and century-old traditions of Japan. Learn 5 tips on how to restore Samurai swords.

Tip 1 - Restoration of blade
Concentrate on the [...]

It is often said that the soul of the warrior is represented within his blade to which the spirit of the maker resides there as well. I can’t help but wonder how Japanese swords are forged. As creations of craftsmen, swords are a reflection of the personality of their makers. There [...]

Swords are not limited to the samurai class. Another class of warriors called Ninja or also known as shinobi, was a class of warriors who originated from lower levels of society. Ninjas are equivalent to modern day spies and were in service of Japanese land lords (a.k.a daymio) and samurai. Ninja may come from [...]

One of the greatest swordsmiths in Japan is Masamune Okazaki. Masamune is almost legendary in Japan. Most of his work was done during the 13th and 14th century. Most Japanese and historians may agree that Masamune has lived in the Sagami province. His most famous works are the tachi swords and [...]

In the history of Japan, there was a legend from the smiths of Yamato Province. The legend was about that the smith Amakumi in Yamato about A. D. 700 who made the first samurai sword. It all began when Amakumi and his son gathered and examined the sword remnants after they found that nearly half [...]

KUBIKIRI TANTO
(BOKUWARI or HANAKIRI TANTO)
The Kubikiri tanto dated from the Meiji to early Showa eras. It is a period when most sword makers and koshirae artists had little work making traditional swords. The term “kubikiri” is traditionally translated as “head cutter”. The kubikiri (kubigiri) is a Japanese tanto with an unusual form. The cutting [...]

Your profound interest in samurai swords may have led you to build your own sword collection. It sounds exciting as a new hobby especially for young collectors. This hobby, however, needs to be taken seriously as it demands for maturity and discipline. What is the next step after you finally gotten yourself your own samurai [...]