The blades dating from the Heian Period (794-1185) through modern times belonged to a physician whose deep knowledge of Japanese sword culture profoundly impressed experts. Until two years ago ...

When I was a kid, I was fascinated by a traditional katana my grandfather had brought home from Japan in 1945. Years later, I ...

Japanese sword making is a tradition that goes back centuries, and one that's carried on to this day. Each sword take dedication, skill and can take over 18 months to create. The resulting blades ...

Japanese sword making is a tradition that goes back centuries, and one that's carried on to this day. Each sword take dedication, skill and can take over 18 months to create. The resulting blades ...

The traditional katana sword is fashioned only from the purest steel, which the Japanese call tamahagane ... more than ordinary steel made using modern methods. While fired at high temperatures ...

Though their meticulously crafted battle armor and elaborate helmets shaped into utterly frightening countenances could fill ...