The japanese katana sword is an iconic weapon revered throughout Japan. It is a symbol of strength and honor, reflecting the Samurai ethos of discipline and respect. It is made by hand through a labor intensive process that can take months to complete. The swordsmith uses a clay tatara furnace to mix iron sand with charcoal and create an alloy called tamahagane, which allows the creation of a high-quality blade. The swordsmith can then vary the profile of the blade by changing the thickness of the blade and by narrowing or expanding the middle ridge, known as the shinogi. This can have both aesthetic and practical effects. Some swords have a flat shinogi and then narrow to the edge, creating a trapezoidal shape, whereas others are flat all the way to the blade edge, producing a longer, more durable tip.
The curved single-edged blade of the katana was an effective weapon for both the slashing movements of mounted warfare and the thrusting maneuvers of on foot combat. Often worn in conjunction with a shorter sword known as the Wakizashi, the katana was slung across the body through a belt-like obi or koshirae and was drawn and struck in one fluid motion – a practice that became central to the martial art of Iaido.
The katana was often engraved with dedications written in kanji characters as well as horimono, or engravings of gods, dragons, and other acceptable symbols. It was also signed by the swordsmith, called a mei, to authenticate it. After the end of the samurai era with the appearance of firearms, the practice of katana use declined. However, the katana survived in some areas and is once again becoming popular with sword enthusiasts from around the world.