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The Beloved Blade of Kondo Isami

Nov 30, 2022

Filed under: bushido, fake, gansaku, japanese sword, katana, kotetsu, samurai, samurai sword

The Search for the Mysterious Sword "Kotetsu" By now, many are aware of Kondo Isami. The broad faced bull of a man with a sharp, piercing stare. He was the head of the Shinsengumi, a secret police force appointed by...

A visit to a sword-smith workshop in the northern part of Kyoto

Nov 18, 2022

Filed under: buying guide, Iaito, japanese sword, katana, newly forged, samurai sword, shinsakuto, swordsmith

A visit to a sword-smith workshop in the northern part of Kyoto

A two-hour drive north of Kyoto City, Japan’s ancient capital, will bring you to the northern most part of Kyoto Prefecture which faces the Sea of Japan. Here, a small city known as Kyotango is nestled by the sea. Blessed...

The Japanese Sword and the Japanese Idioms Part 2

Oct 31, 2022

Filed under: Japanese Idioms, japanese sword, katana, samurai, samurai sword

The Japanese Sword and the Japanese Idioms Part 2

More Japanese expressions associated with Japanese swords For this entry, I would like to continue to introduce Japanese idioms related to the Japanese sword. Dotanba (A podium made of sand) During the Edo period, the execution place for criminals had...

What is Shirasaya For?

Oct 27, 2022

Filed under: buying guide, japanese sword, maintenance, newly forged, samurai sword, sheathing, shirasaya, sword structure

So What Exactly is Shirasaya? There are two types of Japanese sword mountings: the koshirae, also called uchigatana, and shirasaya. The uchigatana koshirae is equipped with a tsuba, a cord-wrapped handle, and a painted or lacquered scabbard. The shirasaya, which...

Gokaden Part 5: Mino-den

Oct 18, 2022

Filed under: appreciation, buying guide, five schools, grains, hamon, japanese sword, katana, kissaki, kitae, kitae hada, mino, nakago, samurai, samurai sword, shape, sori, sword structure, tsuka, tsukuri-komi

A treasure house of swords for actual warfare that are robust and boast outstanding sharpness Mino-den is the most recent of the Gokaden. It originated in the mid Kamakura period (1185-1333) and flourished from the Muromachi period (1333-1568) to the...

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The blade is stunning beyond measure

The blade is stunning beyond measure. The packaging was perfect..I was pleased every which way. Thank you a million times!!

Outstanding

The best you can find.

Excellent

Excellent service

Another great purchase from Tozando

Another great purchase from Tozando.

Newly Forged Katana by Sadatoyo

The katana Sadatoyo made looks amazing and is definitely worth the price. I am glad I chose him as the blacksmith, and will enjoy displaying and staring at this masterpiece for years to come.

Tozando Katana Shop

Katana Blog 

The Beloved Blade of Kondo Isami

A visit to a sword-smith workshop in the northern part of Kyoto

The Japanese Sword and the Japanese Idioms Part 2

What is Shirasaya For?

Gokaden Part 5: Mino-den

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