What is Tsukuri-komi? Japanese has a word “tsukuri-komi” which refers to the structure and style of the sword blade. In a previous article about the sword’s appearance, I mentioned that the tachi had a strong back-bend whereas the uchigatana had...

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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...

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The sharp point of a Japanese katana is called the “kissaki”. It is sometimes also called the “boshi” - hat, but boshi can refer to the kissaki itself or the hamon (temper pattern) that spills onto the kissaki. Kissaki is...

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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...

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