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 seriously. And even though the Samurai no longer exist, the katana is embedded in the rich cultural and martial traditions of Japan itself.

Technorati Tags: how to handle and wear the katana, japanese, samurai sword, weapons