What is Koshirae? Japanese swords can be roughly divided into two types: Tachi and Uchi-gatana. Aikuchi Koshirae This is a type of sword without a tsuba and is made so that the mouth of the saya and the fuchigane of...
What is Hamon? Even those seeing a Japanese sword for the first time are captivated by the vividness of the hamon (blade pattern). The hamon refers to the part that is tempered with extra heat, so it is actual proof...
How to draw and sheath your Japanese sword It goes without saying, that Japanese swords are precious cultural treasures, but if it is handled roughly it might be damaged or might cause injury to yourself or someone else. If that...
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:...
What is Iaito? Iaito is an imitation sword mainly used in iaido, with the blade made of zinc alloy. There are various types of swords, from high-grade ones like the serious ones to lightweight ones for beginners. In this article...