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Revered as the 'soul of the samurai,' the katana remains a subject of much intrigue, though the world knows surprisingly little about its true nature. While at times it fulfills, and even exceeds, the legendary mystique surrounding it, there are moments when it simply doesn’t live up to its iconic image.
10. The 'Samurai' Blade
Katana were weapons used by samurai, but referring to one particular type of blade as the 'samurai' sword is like calling every Toyota model a Corolla. The katana was just one piece in a much larger collection of weapons used by Japan’s ancient warrior class.
The earliest swords crafted in Japan were called chokuto, straight blades inspired by Chinese weapons. These were relatively rudimentary and prone to breaking under sharp impacts. Eventually, they gave way to curved blades, which were more durable. These curves led to the creation of the katana, but katana are merely the latest iteration of a long-standing tradition of blades.
Samurai didn’t rely on utility swords, but instead used a variety of specialized weapons for different situations. For instance, the nodachi, a large sword over 1 meter (3 ft) long, was designed to fight cavalry while on foot. Another weapon, the nagamaki, evolved from the nodachi and combined sword and polearm features. These massive weapons, with blades longer than 1.2 meters (4 ft) and shafts to match, were wielded with powerful, sweeping strokes to cut down mounted opponents.
Some blades that look like katana might actually not be. The tachi is often mistaken for a katana, but it is the katana's predecessor. However, the samurai eventually abandoned the tachi in favor of the quicker uchigatana used by lower classes. When uchigatana blades longer than 60 centimeters (24 in) were produced, they were called 'katana,' while shorter blades were named wakizashi. The wakizashi was worn indoors alongside the katana after entering a private house, a gesture of respect for the host.
9. Creating a Sword Was a Sacred Ritual
In ancient Japan, swordsmiths were revered far above other craftsmen. There are even stories of emperors crafting their own swords, an unusual instance of royalty engaging in manual labor. Exiled Emperor Go-Toba is said to have built a smithy during his exile to forge his own blades.
Ancient records suggest that the art of bladesmithing was deeply entwined with religious rituals. Before forging a sword, a smith would purify himself through Shinto ceremonies, which included fasting and abstaining from sexual activity. At times, he would embark on a pilgrimage before beginning his work. His forge area was marked off with a special rope, indicating its sacredness.
The swordsmith would also wear the ceremonial robe of a Shinto priest, maintaining purification rituals throughout the entire process. Each day, he would either stand beneath a waterfall reciting prayers, or if a waterfall was unavailable, pour a specific number of cold buckets of water over himself.
Although forging a blade could take months, the smith adhered to the purification rituals throughout the entire process. Women were prohibited from entering the smithy due to the belief that menstruation rendered them impure. For the same reason, the smith himself was forbidden from making contact with women. Given the religious significance in crafting blades, many tales exist of divine forces aiding the smiths.
8. The Blade Is Only One Aspect Of A Sword’s Worth
Even a sword with damage from a renowned smith holds greater value than an immaculate blade of lower quality. Swords crafted by the most famous smiths are regarded as national treasures and are priceless. While the blade is typically the most essential component, other elements of a sword contribute significantly to its overall value. The swordsmith creates the blade, but other artisans craft the additional parts.
For collectors, the most valuable part of the sword is often the tsuba (the decorative hand guard), which can be as valuable as the blade itself. A single tsuba can fetch tens of thousands of dollars. The scabbards, mounts, and decorative elements are crafted by different artisans and can also command high prices at auctions. As a result, owning a complete sword is essential for its full value. A missing hand guard can decrease its value by 10 percent, while the absence of a scabbard can reduce its value by 30 percent.
Some antique swords are available for just a few hundred dollars, most commonly the factory-made blades from World War II known as gunto. However, a handcrafted, unmounted sword typically starts at around $2,000, though various factors can significantly affect its price.
7. The Polisher’s Role Is As Crucial As The Smith’s
The bond between the swordsmith and the sword polisher is often likened to that of a composer and a musician. A blade can never reach its full potential without the contributions of both.
After a smith finishes crafting the blade, the factors that determine its quality remain hidden until it is polished. The steel’s grain and temper line, essential to the sword's visual appeal, only become visible when a master polisher brings them out, a process that can take even longer than forging the blade itself.
After a polisher works on the steel, the metal may transform into a piece of art. He uses various fine stones to give a blade its shine. While some modern synthetic stones are used, only natural stones are employed in the final stages, stones that cannot be replicated.
The immense skill required to reveal a blade’s beauty is why modern sword polishers undergo an apprenticeship lasting five years or more before they are certified. The individual polishing a blade must be a master, as improper polishing can completely ruin it. Within Japan, the finest polishers have been honored as living national treasures by the Japanese government.
6. The Katana Wasn’t As Significant As People Think
Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu famously called the katana the “soul of the samurai,” but in truth, it was no more crucial in battle than a samurai’s other weapons. Katana were actually considered a secondary weapon. In the early days, samurai charged into battle wielding bow and arrow. It wasn’t until much later that warfare shifted, and samurai began to focus less on archery and more on mounted cavalry tactics.
Even then, the first samurai to engage in combat was known as “the first spear.” In comparison to a spear, the katana was too short to be effective when fighting from horseback. Once a samurai’s arrows were spent, he would then switch to a polearm—similar to a spear but with a longer reach. Even after samurai handed over their bows and arrows to foot soldiers, they still relied on the spear before reaching for the sword.
Ultimately, the arrival of firearms in Japan forever changed the nature of warfare. Unlike the katana, which required years of training to master, guns were simple to use, causing the role of the noble warrior class to decline. As a result, the demand for swords diminished, and they became more of a symbol of status than a functional weapon.
Samurai were the only ones allowed to carry katana. However, as samurai faced fewer battles to fight, the katana became increasingly ornate and less practical, eventually becoming a symbol of social status rather than a weapon.
5. Tested On Corpses And Criminals
During the Edo period, the government established an official sword-testing department to evaluate the quality of blades. Through tameshigiri, a master swordsman would assess a blade by cutting through the bodies of executed criminals, sometimes including live criminals, stacked on top of one another. While this technique was occasionally used to train inexperienced samurai, official tests could only be conducted by master swordsmen to ensure that the blade was the sole factor in determining the quality of the cut.
There were various locations on the body—from ankles to trunk—where blades were tested. The results of the test, such as “cut through three bodies at the trunk,” were engraved on the blade. If the blade proved powerful, its value significantly increased.
While the smith benefited from tameshigiri as a testament to the quality of his craftsmanship, the sword tests were commissioned by the buyer. These tests were sometimes as expensive as the swords themselves, but a successful result greatly boosted a sword’s worth. Tests were also performed on older blades to enhance their value. Legend has it that a 16th-century sword was once used to slice through seven bodies in one strike.
Naturally, while a successful test would elevate a blade’s value and boost its smith’s reputation, a failed test would have the opposite effect. One story recounts a criminal condemned to death by tameshigiri who humorously told the testers that if he had known he would be executed by the sword, he would have swallowed stones to damage the blade.
4. The Old And New Blades
Although tests to evaluate blade quality were conducted during the Edo period (1603–1868), swords crafted before 1530 were far superior to those made later. With the advent of gunpowder in Japan, swords began to lose their significance as weapons of warfare. As there was less need for such high-quality weapons, smiths gradually lost many of the traditional techniques that made their blades exceptional.
Japan had entered a time of relative tranquility. With the diminished need for and quality of blades, the average samurai’s ability to assess them also weakened. Taking advantage of this, swordsmiths began to emphasize intricate designs rather than a sword’s cutting power. The “Chief Swordsmith of Japan” under Tokugawa Ieyasu exploited his position to sell fraudulent certificates to substandard smiths, thereby diluting the quality until many traditional techniques became extinct.
Although it was still somewhat dangerous to travel, it was much safer than in earlier times. As a result, swordsmiths moved to larger cities where there was still a demand for their craft. This migration led to the gradual blending of swordsmithing styles, causing the disappearance of the older schools of sword-making.
3. The Best Sword In The Ancient World?
Some have questioned whether katana truly live up to the hype surrounding them. There are numerous reports of swords breaking or getting stuck in an opponent’s armor. Katana are not the invincible blades that modern legends suggest. While not all steel is created equal, every sword is made from it, and steel can break.
Katana were likely the hardest swords of the ancient world, but they were also more brittle compared to other types of blades. Katana could easily cut through soft materials with little damage, but striking harder objects over time could cause chips or cracks. European swords, while not as hard as katana, could take more abuse in a different way. For instance, the Toledo blades of Spain were so durable that they were bent into “S” shapes and semicircles, then struck against steel helmets with full force to test their resilience.
Even when comparing the merits of Japanese swords with those from other regions, it’s hard to declare a definitive “best” sword. Each was designed for a specific combat style. For example, European swords were made to strike against heavy armor and shields, so they were built to withstand much more punishment.
Japanese warriors, on the other hand, typically launched preemptive attacks to minimize wear on their blades. Comparing one sword to another is akin to comparing apples and oranges, yet each side has its own fierce supporters, many of whom are smiths promoting their own creations.
2. The Art Is Dying
Although there is a resurgence of interest in Japanese swords, the tradition of Japanese swordsmithing is slowly fading away. Paradoxically, this is partly due to the very strict standards set by the society that once helped preserve these swords.
A Japanese sword can only be crafted by a licensed swordsmith, and the apprenticeship for this skill takes five years. Afterward, a swordsmith must spend several more years building a solid reputation. Every year, the society organizes a sword competition where smiths present their creations to be judged. Hundreds of smiths participate, as a high score in the competition can increase the value of their swords. Only those who rank in the top 30 can sustain a living through their craft.
Additionally, the government enforces regulations limiting the number of swords a smith can produce to maintain their quality. A swordsmith is permitted to forge only two long swords or three short swords per month. This rule ensures that the smith dedicates full attention to each individual blade.
These limits were established after the government observed the work of an older, famed swordsmith known for his meticulous craftsmanship. Yet, many modern smiths are capable of producing double the regulated number of swords without compromising the quality of their work.
As things stand, these regulations severely restrict a swordsmith’s income. Consequently, the number of swordsmiths is dwindling, and the art is at risk of disappearing, as many cannot support themselves solely through swordmaking. To survive, many swordsmiths are forced to take on other types of work or only craft a few swords each year.
1. Modern Katana
Recognizing the imminent decline of swordsmithing, the Token Kai was established in 1900 with the aim of studying Japanese swords and preserving their craftsmanship. The organization played a key role in reviving interest in the Japanese sword, inspiring the formation of numerous similar groups. With the onset of World War II, one such group shifted its focus to researching techniques for making gunto, the mass-produced swords issued to officers.
Following World War II, the American occupation forces imposed a ban on the production and ownership of swords, a restriction that lasted until 1953. After the ban was lifted, there was a renewed surge of interest in Japanese swords. In 1960, the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword was founded, playing a crucial role in reviving ancient forging methods and the production of tamahagane steel, which is essential for crafting authentic blades.
Although the last smelter producing the special steel had been shut down, it was revived in 1977 to forge modern blades. Today, a licensed swordsmith in Japan must adhere to the same traditional methods used a thousand years ago. The society also enforces strict regulations in the crafting of Japanese blades, ensuring that contemporary katana are of the highest quality, in many respects surpassing those made over the past five centuries.
