The Japanese sword, often epitomized by the katana, is more than just a weapon. It is a symbol of Japan’s rich cultural history, craftsmanship, and the ideals of the samurai who wielded it. Known for ...

The curved steel blades gleamed in the soft gallery lighting, as sharp and vicious-looking as when each was forged hundreds of years ago. The swords were the primary weapons of the samurai, the ...

A newly translated samurai text called "Twelve Rules of the Sword" reveals the secrets of a sword-fighting school that mastered a technique that seemed to give supernatural powers. Dating back to the ...

TOKYO, Japan — In Narita City, just east of Tokyo, one of the oldest Japanese martial arts skills is still being taught. "This teaching is called Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu," said Otake Risuke. ...