Katana

Katana is a traditional Japanese sword and was the main weapon of samurai. It's length is about one meter, and it's efficiency is based on its sharpness, weight and special cutting technique. Katana is a single-edged sword and usually used with two hands since it is surprisingly heavy.

Katana dates back to 1500, when it replaced it's precessor, tachi. Tachi was developed from earlier tsurugi in 700-century. Tachi was carried it's blade down, thus making it ideal for drawing when riding a horse.

Katana is not only stored, but also carried it's blade up. This is because of belief that spirits can lay down to rest in the blade. There are a lot of beliefs to katana - for example that one should never step over katana, or touch the saya, katana's scabbard. If you have chance to see a real katana, never touch the blade. It is not only considered rude for the owner, but also bad idea since - as you hopefully have realized by now - katanas really are sharp.

But also the katana blade is very sensitive for moisture and dirt. Katanas are not made of stainless steel and can actually rust. When storing katana, one must oil it's surface occasionally to prevent rusting.

Katanas are always manufactured by hand. The process of katana manufacturing includes a spiritual rite that swordsmith engages into and gives katana it's spirit. Still in Japan there are about one hundred swordsmiths. Katana is always made by using special methods which allow it's blade to be strong and sharp.

Katana can be manufactured from a junk iron (almost anything will do), and the enforging process includes lots of hammering and twisting and turning. When the blade's steel is enforged to a steel, a special polishing and sharpening process takes place.

Katana was the main weapon of samurai. Samurais also carried their second weapon, wakizashi - a shorter dagger-like sword. Technique of the short sword swordmanship is well explained in Yoji Yamada's movie called "Tasogare Seibei" (Twilight Samurai).

During Meiji Restauration, katanas became forbidden in Japan and most of them were melted or shipped to Europe. Still it is not uncommon for a family have inherited katana which is usually sacred, priceless object of the family.

At present in Japan, it is required to have a permission if one wants to posses a katana. Also, trying to transport a real katana through the airport and customs can be tricky. The punishment from trying to fool the authorities can be severe - they might cut your blade in two, rendering the katana worthless. So, before you try to move your priceless katana out from the Japan, you'd better to have a proper, written permission, which can be hard to get.

See also: iaido

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