New Arrivals — An authentic masterwork by the creator of the legendary Tonbokiri is now available. Browse →
Articles to deepen your understanding of Japanese sword history, structure, and appreciation. Enjoyable for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Later-added signatures, tang forgeries, faked hamon, and confusion between modern and antique blades — explaining real-world forgery tactics encountered in authentication and the observation points for spotting them.
Fuchi-kashira are among the most closely examined fitting pairs in Japanese sword mounts. This guide explores the unity of style and theme that makes a matched set beautiful, and when intentional mismatch is an aesthetic choice.
Explore how a sword's center of gravity and blade balance affect movement in iaido and battojutsu. This guide covers grip fundamentals, reducing strain on wrists and shoulders, and how to evaluate a sword's balance before purchase.
Yamato, Yamashiro, Bizen, Soshu, and Mino — exploring the characteristics and history of the five great sword-making traditions.
Suguha, midare, choji, gunome — types of hamon and how to appreciate them, explained for beginners.
Masamune, Muramasa, Kotetsu, Osafune Kanemitsu — the lives and styles of history's greatest swordsmiths.
The history of tsuba as sword fittings, and techniques of master metalworkers: Shoami, Goto, and Yokoya Somin.
Exploring Japanese swords as assets: historical price trends, what makes a sword appreciate, risks and considerations.
Japanese sword polishing is not mere maintenance — it's an artistic technique that reveals the full beauty of jihada and hamon.
Saijo Owazamono, Owazamono, Yoki Wazamono, Wazamono — Edo-era sharpness rankings and modern assessment.
Mikazuki Munechika, Dojigiri Yasutsuna, Onimaru Kunitsuna, Odenta Mitsuyo, Juzumaru Tsunetsugu — the pinnacle of Japanese swords.
Itame, mokume, masame, ayasugi — types of jihada and appreciation tips for beginners.
False signatures, later additions, composite blades — key points for authentication and why NBTHK papers matter.
Chips, rust, breaks — restoration possibilities for damaged swords, and when not to restore.
Japanese swords aren't just the Gokaden. Introducing excellent provincial smiths from Satsuma, Tosa, Echizen, Kaga and more.
The shinto sword world that blossomed in Osaka. Comparing the two masters: Sukehiro's toran-ba and Shinkai's suguha.
The nakago is a sword's resume. How to identify smiths and eras from inscriptions, file marks, and patina.
'Katana can cut through anything,' 'They never break,' 'Muramasa is cursed' — the truth behind common myths.
Japanese Sword Export Guide: Country-by-Country Customs, Registration, and Procedures
Modern Swordsmith Interviews: Those Who Carry the Legacy of the Five Traditions
Japanese Sword Troubleshooting: Saya Rattle, Loose Mekugi, and Stuck Koiguchi
Samurai Culture and Contemporary Art: How Japanese Swords Inspire 21st-Century Expression
Japanese Sword Authentication: Practical Knowledge for Spotting Forgeries