What's so special about Tsuka? From shinken to iaito and decorative wall-hangers, there are numerous types of Japanese swords available for purchase today, however, today we will have a look at the only part that you touch on a katana:...

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What is Nakago? There is a line that runs between the blade’s edge area and the ridge area. Between this line and the bottom of the blade (the area hidden inside the sheath) is called nakago (tang). The nakago is...

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What is Hi? Hi is the Japanese name for the groove (also known as a fuller) that runs up the length of the blade. Its original purpose was to make the sword lighter and more resistant to bending. As time...

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The curvature of Katana As mentioned in the article about the Tsukuri-kom(structure) of the Japanese sword, the Japanese sword was originally a straight sword with no curve at all, and was used for purposes of striking, plunging, and stabbing. As...

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