General information
Glossary
Here you will find some terms related to samurai swords. If you think that we should include a particular term in the collection,
26 September 2017
General information
Samurai sword & katana - the same thing?
One question that comes up again and again is the difference between a samurai sword and a katana. Are there any differences at all or are they
26 September 2017
Curiosities
Samurai armour vs. katana
Samurai warriors wore elaborate armour to provide the best possible protection against enemy attacks. The term yoroi (Japanese 鎧) is the generic term for Japanese armour.
25 September 2017
General information
Samurai sword components
A samurai sword consists of many individual elements. All components have Japanese designations. There are many of these together with the various designs. We offer here
19. July 2017
General information
10 types of Japanese swords and their impressive history
Types of Japanese swords Introduction A samurai sword, usually called a katana (刀 in Japanese), is a term commonly used to describe all Japanese curved long swords with a single-edged blade. In this article we would like to
16. July 2017
General information
Samurai Code: Bushido & Hagakure
What is Bushido? Bushido, the samurai code, is a code of behaviour and a philosophy of life according to which the Japanese samurai warriors acted. The term Bushido
16. July 2017
General information
Tameshigiri - The Katana Cutting Exercises
The term tameshigiri refers to cutting exercises that are performed with Japanese swords, usually katana or samurai swords. The aim of these cutting exercises can be a quality-
14. July 2017
General information
Ninja & Samurai: The differences
Both the ninja and the samurai were warriors in pre-industrialised Japan. They both served their masters/clients. However, their tasks and working methods were
12. July 2017
Famous swordsmiths
Yoshindo Yoshihara - The master blacksmith
Yoshindo Yoshihara is generally regarded as the best katana smith of our time. He was born on 21 February 1943 and lives in Takasago, Japan. Already at the tender age of
10. July 2017
Curiosities
Samurai versus robot - who is better?
An important task of every samurai is to perfect his sword fighting technique. He trains hard for this throughout his life, training both his mind and his body.
28. June 2017
Famous swordsmiths
Nagasone Kotetsu - Master swordsmith
Nagasone Kotetsu (長曾禰 虎徹) is considered the most famous Japanese swordsmith of the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan at this time. Their
27. June 2017
Famous swordsmiths
Masamune - The best swordsmith in Japan
Masamune (正宗) lived from around 1264 - 1343 AD and is generally regarded as the best swordsmith in Japanese history. He is also known as
21. June 2017
Famous swordsmiths
Amakuni - Blacksmith of the oldest katana
Amakuni Yasutsuna (天国) was a Japanese swordsmith who lived in Uta in the province of Yamato in the 8th century. According to legend, he is the inventor of the
21. June 2017
Famous swordsmiths
Muramasa - The legendary swordsmith
Muramasa Sengo (千子 村正) is considered one of the best and most famous swordsmiths in Japan. He is usually simply called Muramasa. He lived during the Muromachi period, which
20. June 2017
Famous swords
Tomoyuki Yamashita - His gold & his sword
Tomoyuki Yamashita's sword After the end of the Second World War, the swords of the Japanese military were confiscated by the victorious USA. One of these swords belonged to
13. June 2017