The Japanese Samurai Katana Sword: Part of the Japanese Soul

The Japanese Samurai Katana Sword sits so high in the cultural esteem of the nation and people that the only thing more Japanese is the bow. Used in the country since the mid 5th century, by the early 1600´s this weapon and the warriors that carried them were ingrained into the Japanese soul. This weapon was used by only the nobility, even in some cases the woman who was also considered samurai, and use by anyone else was punishable by death. Each blade was given a name, sometimes “kami” names, which were the names of friendly spirits of each house.

Although the blade was essentially a cutting/slashing blade, it could also be used for thrusting and its finely curved edge was excellent for use on horse back which the Japanese developed around the 8th century. Its use was coupled with the martial art called Kenjutsu.

The most famous period of the Japanese Samurai Katana Swords use was during the Edo period. This was between 1603 and 1867 and was also the period of heavy European interest in Japan. This was a period of heavy warfare in Japan while the shoguns tried to reunify the nation under the Emperor.

Traditional Katanas are about 70 cm long and are classed as daitos or long swords. Unlike European long swords the katana was worn with the blade facing upwards and held to the body with a wide sash called a tachi. The warrior also wore a shorter blade that was used rarely for parrying but always for seppuku or ritual suicide of a dishonored warrior.

The blade is forged by a complex process that can take weeks or months to complete. These skills were passed from father to son and are still a family tradition. Each smith was famous for his style and the processes that he uses to create these wonderful weapons.

Unfortunately there are a great number of forgeries on the market. There are experts on katanas called mekiki who can identify a forgery by sight. When a true blade is finished it is inspected by mekiki and a certificate of authenticity is issued. This has been common practice for about 800 years and shows you the mark of a true Japanese Samurai Katana Sword.