In the history of Japanese swords, the five major sword-smithing regions are called Gokaden, each of which has developed in its own unique way. Although at first glance, Japanese swords appear to be made in the same way, in fact,...
The blade of the Japanese sword is made by heating the tamahagane (steel for making swords) to high temperature then hitting it flat with a mallet. They use a chisel to create the rift in the blades, fold it, then...
This is a great little book. It is aimed at beginners to the field but there are still bits of information that seasoned connoisseurs will appreciates. It has an accessible written style and excellent diagrams of features that I’ve never understood or seen such as ‘yo’ and ‘choji ashi’. Highly recommended book.
The Katana I purchased from Tozando is magnificent. It is a work of art. I am deeply grateful for the excellent customer service I received and the beautiful blade.