Myths vs. Realities of the Katana

Katana are popularly conceived of as "the best" swords ever made. While they are certainly effective blades, much of their modern status over other sword types owes more to the entertainment industry than the realities of swordsmithing and combat. The swords, also known as "samurai swords" and loosely defined as curved, single-bladed Japanese swords with blades at least two feet long, have a variety of near-magical properties ascribed to them, often with little explanation given. There are, however, some rationales that are used to provide a basis for the swords' supposed prowess. Though these reasons may sound convincing, by and large, they are either inaccurate or misleading.
First and foremost, it is important to question the base assumption that there can be a single "best" sword, as it ignores the important question, "best at what?" Every sword made and used in every part of the world throughout history was designed in response to unique conditions and made for specific uses. Differences of terrain, available ore, enemy weaponry, armor, mounted or unmounted combat, and numerous other considerations have shaped every sword (and indeed, every weapon) ever made to attempt to be the best possible weapon for the given situation. No single sword design could ever be the overall "best," as any design will fail if placed in conditions far removed from those it was intended for.

Below are some of the most common rationales cited for katana being superior to other sword styles.

Myth: The folded steel and partial heat-treating make them much stronger than other swords.

Reality: Folding or otherwise layering blades and differential tempering (heat-treating the edge but not the spine of the blade) are neither uniquely Japanese techniques nor even actually Japanese in origin. Both techniques spread to Japan from China, where they had been developed and were already in steady use. The same techniques either developed independently or were spread via trade routes in many cultures around the world as a method of solving the universal problem of unhardened steel being too soft to hold an edge well and hardened steel is too brittle to make a whole sword from.

Myth: Their blade curvature is perfectly designed for cutting.
Reality: The curvature of each katana blade may vary substantially, depending on the style, time period and maker. Generally, katana are only slightly curved, but more deeply curved examples are known. The curvature is also by no means unique to the katana, as most sword-making cultures around the world have made curved blades of some variety. It is also important to note that the curvature is a trade-off, relinquishing some of the strengths of a straight sword (such as ease of thrusting) for the extra slicing ability granted by the curve.

Myth: The convex or "apple-seed" blade profile allows them to cut deeper than others.
Reality: As with blade curvature, the convex blade profile (judged by looking at the sword point-first) is both a trade-off and by no means unique to Japanese blades. There are three basic blade profiles, each used for differing situations, and each found in blades from all over the world: convex, flat, and concave. Convex blades are generally more effective against armor as they resist damage better as well as cutting deeper as the curvature and extra weight helps the slicing action of the blade, but are somewhat more difficult to actually achieve a cut within the first place, as they are effectively duller than other types. Concave blade profiles are easier to cut with and can be much sharper than others, but are much more prone to breaking and not as easy to slice deeply with. Flat blade profiles are essentially a compromise between these two.

Myth: They are much sharper than other cultures' swords.
Reality: This myth is perpetuated in large part due to the modern sword manufacturers themselves. Since there is generally more demand for katana than other historical swords, it is often easier to find sharp, well-made katana than a similarly high-quality English or Chinese sword, leading to the misinterpretation that duller blades were historically common in these cultures, when in reality sword sharpness was relatively consistent around the world.

Myth: They were produced with better steel.
Reality: Japan has never been home to large, high-quality deposits of iron ore, making the widespread production of steel fit for swords problematic. Japanese smiths were able to compensate for this through careful smelting, but high-quality steel was very expensive. This led to one area in which katana historically truly have excelled: craftsmanship. With little steel to waste and a higher incentive to prevent imperfections that could lead to sword breakage, Japanese swordsmiths historically focused more on perfecting each blade than did smiths in countries where a broken sword could easily be replaced.

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How to Display Samurai Swords

A Katana is a Japanese sword. The Katana was most notably used by the Samurai during the Japanese medieval period. I recently was fortunate enough to be a given a collection of Katanas. The swords have a long curved blade and were encased beautiful yet simple scabbards. I knew it was important to display them properly. I did a little research here's how to display Samurai swords. Quick note, Samurai swords should always be cleaned and oiled before storage.
Proper Storage On Stands

Whether you are storing Katana, Tanto or other Samurai swords, you might consider using a sword stand or saya. Wooden stands or saya are often used for displaying Katana. The saya keeps the sword from warping. Display the sword with the blade facing upward. It's traditional to do so in case of the soldier had to draw and strike quickly. Always keep your swords housed in their cases. Displaying raw blades is dangerous as Katana or Samurai swords are extremely sharp. The handle or Tsuka of the sword should be displayed on the right side of the stand if you are right-handed. If the warrior is left handed then the sword is displayed with the handle to the left. You can use floor stands, tables stand or display stands that hang on the wall.

Katana Dansu

The Japanese have lovely storage cabinets called Tansu or Dansu. The storage chests used for displaying Samurai swords is called Katana Dansu. This type of chest is typically made from cedar and is handcrafted. The lid of the chest should be made of glass so that the swords can be easily seen and enjoyed by all who come to visit.

Display Order for Katana

If you are displaying many Katana or Samurai swords then you should be aware that there is a particular order. If you are using a stand that has many different sword positions available then you need to display from the top to the bottom. The top display position goes to the smallest sword often called the Tanto. The middle position of the saya goes to the Wakizashi which is not as long as the last sword, the Katana. The Katana should be displayed in the bottom position and all sword handles should face the same direction.

Always clean your sword and oil it before returning it to its scabbard. This should be done at least twice a year.

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5 Classic 1960's Summer Samurai Films

Summertime and swordplay just seem to go together. Here are 5 samurai-themed films that I picked for their slashing swordfight action, not necessarily for particularly complex plotting. These are energetic entertainment from the classic era of the chambara* movie in Japan (the sword-swingin' sixties)! These movies are only offered as the Japanese language with English subtitles unless there are some old VHS dubbed versions floating around that I don't know about, but for samurai flicks that is the way I like it. My choices here reflect my bias for the mid-to-late Tokugawa era jidai geki settings (around 1800-1868 or so). So without more ado, let's get past the staredown and proceed straight to the quick draw!

1. Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1969): Shintaro Katsu's blind swordsman Ichi is matched here against a yakuza boss who is equally blind and delightfully evil; Katsu was adept at pathos AND bathos, i.e., grotesque comedy, and it shows here in a romp directed by Kenji Misumi, the man behind many of the Lone Wolf and Cub films and several other Zatoichi flicks. His films are colorful and packed with energetic swordfights. This is no exception. Watch for transvestite actor Peter as he tries to seduce Ichi, and some repeated encounters with angry, sword-swinging Tatsuya Nakadai, who wants to kill Ichi but not just yet -- an action-packed romp with some great set pieces. Probably the most fun to watch of all the Zatoichi films in my opinion.

2. Yojimbo (1961): Akira Kurosawa's light-hearted but gritty (in a Western way) tale of a ronin named Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune) who pits one yakuza gang against another in a rundown late Tokugawa era town (the year is 1860, just before the Meiji Restoration). There's lots of posturing and plotting going on, but all you need to know is that Mifune is playing one side against the other, and most of them are dumb enough to fall for it. The only man in town with a gun (Tatsuya Nakadai) is also the only man in town with brains. He catches on to Sanjuro's scheme and the showdown begins!

3. Nemuri Kyoshiro 4: Sword of Seduction (1964). Nemuri Kyoshiro roughly translates as "Sleepy Eyes of Death," which is its American series release title. There are several Kyoshiros, but the one everyone knows is played by Raizo Ichikawa, once called the "James Dean of Japan." He has a laconic manner and a melodic, deep voice that can menace or seduce. Kyoshiro is a half-breed, born of a Christian father and a Japanese mother. His trademark is his deep red hair and his secret Full Moon cut, which no swordsman has witnessed and survived. As sure as Mifune's Sanjuro inspired the "Man With No Name" of Clint Eastwood's spaghetti westerns, so Ichikawa's Kyoshiro follows in the same mold, except Kyoshiro tends to get laid a whole lot more. He also seems to be an eternal target. So expect lots of seductions and swordfights in this number 4 entry in which he is called upon to protect a Christian nun who has a few secrets of her own. Look for a rousing appearance by "Lone Wolf and Cub" leading man Tomisaburo Wakayama as Chinese boxer Chen Sun. Always a joy to watch!

4. Sword of Doom (Daibosatsu Toge, 1966): OK, this movie does have a complicated historical plot featuring the Shinsengumi and a bizarre karma theme, but you don't HAVE to watch it on that level. You can enjoy it on a simple level of watching Tatsuya Nakadai as Ryunosuke, a badass, amoral swordsman with the baddest of bad attitudes. He enjoys sake and killing, not necessarily in that order. I tried compiling a body count for this movie once and came up with 88. Not a record, but for sheer style and doggedness, no one beats Nakadai! Watch for Nakadai's traditional archnemesis, Toshiro Mifune, in a small but memorable role as a sword instructor who embodies the heroic ideal of "the sword is the soul." Note for those of you in anger management courses: you might be cheesed off at the ending of this one, but as someone who is familiar with the source material, I find the ending of this film quite appropriate.

5. Red Lion (Akage, 1969): It is 1868, and the Tokugawa Shogunate is on its way out, while the new Imperial forces are making their way up the major highways from Kyoto to Edo (old Tokyo) to proclaim their new order and gain support. A bumpkin farmer named Gonzo (Toshiro Mifune) wants nothing more than to bring the message to his home village after his 10-year absence and make a name for himself in the process, while overthrowing the corrupt Tokugawa officials that have, in his view, ruined the town. He finds out that all is not as it seems, and the Imperials are not the godsend he thought they would be. Some people find this film to be socialist or intricate in its plotting, but it has enough broad comedy and action to overcome that, in my opinion. Etsushi Takahashi as the obligatory taciturn samurai bodyguard who is willing to wait til Gonzo gets it together to face him if the Imperials and the Shogun's men don't get there first!

Yojimbo and Sword of Doom are widely available, and both have been given the Criterion Collection treatment.

*Chambara, also spelled "chanbara" is a Japanese term for a swordplay film, a subgroup of jidaigeki, which is a historical film, television show or play (usually Edo period:1603-1868).

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Samurai Swords: A Quick & Easy Guide

If you put together all of the deadliest weapons in human history, the most recognizable one would probably be the samurai sword. Although samurai swords have been gaining popularity lately through outlets like television and Hollywood, the weapon has been around for centuries. Originating in Japan, it has been one of the most recognized symbols of the country. Synonymous with strength and beauty, many feel that the samurai sword is the crown jewel of Japanese culture.

Samurai Swords

There are three main types of samurai swords, however probably the most famous is the Katana. The Katana is a sword with a long, curved blade that has a cutting edge on only one side. It came into being sometime in the late 10th century, with its original purpose being a weapon for surprise attacks. Soldiers would carry them at their belts in battle with the cutting edge facing up.

During the age of the Samurai, swords were paired together and worn at the side as a symbol of status. Only if you were a samurai could you wear a pair of swords? All samurai wore a Katana. However, the second sword was chosen and worn as a matter of taste. The Katana could be paired with one of two additional swords, a Wakizashi, or a Tanto.

A Wakizashi is a shorter sword than the Katana and when used in concert it is an effective tool for defense. Most times a Wakizashi was worn with the Katana if the particular practitioner of swordsmanship was a student of a particular "two-sword" style, like that of Miyamoto Musashi.

The other sword that could be worn with a Katana was more of a knife than a sword. The Tanto was a short blade not usually longer than eleven or twelve inches in length, that was carried as an instrument for committing "hara-kiri" or a type of ritual suicide. Hara-kiri, or Seppuku, was enacted when a samurai had dishonored himself in some way and was done by sticking the Tanto into the left side of the abdomen and then dragging the blade upwards towards the heart and then to the right towards the lungs, thereby severing most major organs and ensuring an honorable death.

Once again, either the Wakizashi or the Tanto could be paired with the Katana and worn on the left side.

Traditional samurai swords are made out of a special Japanese steel called Tamahagane. During the forging process, two different consistencies of Tamahagane are added together to form the finished product. A harder outer steel is used to provide the sword with a hard and sharp cutting edge that will not dent or fracture easily. The harder steel is then wrapped around a softer inner core steel that allows the blade to absorb the energy of impacts thereby adding to the longevity and durability of the sword.

After their forging, traditional Japanese swords are then sent to a polisher who sharpens and hones the edge of the blade to its final razor-sharpness. Japanese sword polishers spend years apprenticing and improving their skills under a teacher before they are certified and allowed to do such things on their own. It takes on average five to six years to become a licensed Japanese sword polisher, and even then it takes longer to be called a master.

After the polishing of the blade is complete, it is fitted with a handle and a scabbard. Each of which is custom made by professionals in the respective areas. Only after the fittings are complete can a traditional samurai sword be considered complete.

Buying a Samurai Sword

In recent years the market for Japanese swords has grown, partly due to the massive flooding of cheap stainless Chinese knockoffs, that is ONLY MEANT FOR DISPLAY! In no way are these cheapo Chinese swords functional or intended for use at all. However, it is still possible to find functional samurai swords at affordable prices. Although not always traditional Japanese swords (by definition being made in Japan), they are made using the same methods and materials as higher priced traditional swords. Manufacturers such as Musashi Swords, Masahiro/Ryumon, Shinwa, United Cutlery, and C.A.S. Hanwei offer fully functional Japanese-style swords at affordable prices.

Although most traditional Japanese Katana's have traveled to the realm of Antiquity and sword collectors, it is still possible for the modern day sword enthusiast to find and buy Japanese-style swords at affordable prices. Who knows, you might stumble upon something better than you bargained for. Keep your eyes and ear open. Traditional Japanese swords do turn up every once and a while. You just have to be patient.

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The Soul of the Samurai is His Sword

I didn't know the first thing about swords. However about 7 years ago, my father in law gave me a World War II Japanese Officers Sword. To me, it looked like some sort of Army surplus item. That was until I started to look into the history of it and others.

There are two types of swords. They are handmade and machine made. The handmade swords are a lot more valuable than the machine made swords. The one I have is machine made. It was brought back by a GI from Okinawa. To him, it was a souvenir of the war. It sat in his closet until he gave it to my father in law shortly before his death. It was then passed on to me.

For some time, I just left in my closet. One day, I came across an article on the Internet about swords. It spurred my interest to get it out and examine it. To my amazement, I found that the blade was in excellent shape except for one small niche on it. When I removed the handle, I discovered Japanese marks on both sides of the blade in the handle area. I took pictures of it and emailed them off to a professional. I discovered that it was made in 1939 and that it had the signature of the man who made it by machine. His name was Take Hisa. As I researched his name, I did come across it as a sword maker before World War II. To this date, I have discovered nothing else about the name or the man.

PBS and Nova have aired a documentary on the mystic of the Samurai Sword. Some of the highlights were based on the overall construction process of the sword. There will also be a lot of history in the use of the sword throughout the program.

The sword is basically made up of two types of steel. The Samurai sword is designed for both piercing and slashing. The word for Sword in Japanese is called nihonto. The making of the sword is an art form all to itself. There have been many precious and beautiful swords made. Some are made for show alone. Still others were made for one reason only and that being the art of war. The struggle for land in about 200 BC brought the rise of the Samurai.

Emperor Keiko was the first to be called a Shogun ( barbarian subduing General). His son was Yamoto. It is he, that the major idea of the Samurai comes from. Samurai practiced the way of "Bushido" (the way of the warrior). The philosophy of the Bushido was "free from fear." Even the fear of death. The Samurai moved from being fighters on horseback to fighters on foot. Although they used spears and the bow, their number one weapon was the sword. They would polish it and care for it. A great honor was bestowed on it and it's value. The sword was held in very high honor, the samurai was ranked at the top of the social order. Only landowners and emperors were higher in prestige.

The swords maker would always place markings on the steel. Some would have the date of the swords beginning and their name as well as the families name that helped make it. Sometimes the design would be to show the greatness of the family in ownership of the sword.

Down through the years like anything else, the design of the sword would change. Some went from very straight to a slight curve in them. Also, some swords would use carbon in their structure. Some would combine iron and carbon to make the sword stronger.

Regardless of its makeup, the sword was considered very precious to those that used them. As time went on, the makeup and designs of the sword became even more important to the owners.

Some swords today are worth thousands of dollars. Although now they are mainly for show. Right after World War II, many swords were rounded up and destroyed. People trying to bring them back into the country would have them taken away and destroyed. However, still many of them like the one that I have still existed. There are many collectors that still place a very high value on them. Some are valuable because of how and who made them. Still, others are just appreciated for their beauty. There are still sword makers today. However, they are made for different reasons than as before. Many swords today are used for showpieces or for special occasions.

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