| There are few weapons that carry the same | | | | depending on the swordsmith that created the blade, |
| mystique as the Japanese sword. It is forged under | | | | had various degrees of curvature to the blade itself. |
| rites that are directly connected to Japan's Shinto | | | | The Katana sword is the name most commonly used |
| religion, and labeled the "Soul of the Samurai," the | | | | by people to describe the Japanese sword. However, |
| Japanese sword serves as both a work of art and as | | | | in truth there are several different types of swords |
| a deadly weapon. For literally hundreds of years, the | | | | and they are called: Katana (a single edged curved |
| Japanese sword also served as a symbol of rank for | | | | long sword favored by the Samurai starting around |
| the Samurai class. | | | | the 1400's, the Wakizashi is the shorter single edged |
| According to legend, there was a swordsmith by the | | | | sword that was usually paired with the Katana, the |
| name of Amakuni that created the first true | | | | Tsurugi was a double edged long sword, the Nodachi |
| Japanese sword sometime around 700A.D. Although | | | | or Otachi were older and longer singe edged swords. |
| there were small changes in the overall design of the | | | | And due to the similar methods of the way they |
| blade during the next thousand years the actual | | | | were forged the pole-mounted weapons called |
| shape of the weapon has changed very little since it | | | | Naginata and Yari were part of the same family. |
| was invented. | | | | These weapons of a previous time are still seen, |
| I do not believe that there will ever be a weapon | | | | manufactured, and purchased even today. The |
| that will fill the dual role or last as long as the | | | | process of making them truly dictates the value and |
| Japanese Katana sword has. Alot of that may have | | | | cost of these splendid weapons. In Japan there are |
| to do with the fact that no one ever sees the | | | | still a few hundred swordsmiths today that create, |
| romance of single combat anymore, we prefer to | | | | forge, temper, and produce these beautiful pieces of |
| use weapons to just kill from as far away as | | | | art. Japan still holds a yearly competition which allows |
| possible. We will never again see the likes of the men | | | | these masters to show their wares and compare |
| and weapons like we have for the past 1000 years. | | | | them with other swordsmiths around the country. |
| The Japanese sword came in varying lengths and, | | | | |