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Samurai Sword Buying Guide: Beyond the Katana

Samurai Sword Buying Guide: Beyond the Katana

Japanese swords come in many types besides the katana - you’ll find the shorter wakizashi, small tanto knife, and the classic tachi sword. Real Japanese swords, called nihonto, must be...

Samurai Sword Buying Guide: Beyond the Katana

Japanese swords come in many types besides the katana - you’ll find the shorter wakizashi, small tanto knife, and the classic tachi sword. Real Japanese swords, called nihonto, must be...

The Evolution of the Tanto: From Heian Period Tool to Samurai Status Symbol

The Evolution of the Tanto: From Heian Period T...

The tantō knife changed from a simple Heian-era fighting tool into a detailed marker of samurai rank. At first, it was made just for close fighting, but during the Kamakura...

The Evolution of the Tanto: From Heian Period T...

The tantō knife changed from a simple Heian-era fighting tool into a detailed marker of samurai rank. At first, it was made just for close fighting, but during the Kamakura...

How to Spot Red Flags When Purchasing a Katana Online

How to Spot Red Flags When Purchasing a Katana ...

When buying katanas online, watch out for prices that seem too good to be true - anything under $150 is likely fake. Be careful if you can’t see clear pictures...

How to Spot Red Flags When Purchasing a Katana ...

When buying katanas online, watch out for prices that seem too good to be true - anything under $150 is likely fake. Be careful if you can’t see clear pictures...

The Art of Koshirae: Exploring Tanto Mountings

The Art of Koshirae: Exploring Tanto Mountings

Tantō mountings show the skilled Japanese craft of fitting out daggers, which grew more complex from the 800s through the 1500s. Workers used fine metals, shark skin, silk ropes, and...

The Art of Koshirae: Exploring Tanto Mountings

Tantō mountings show the skilled Japanese craft of fitting out daggers, which grew more complex from the 800s through the 1500s. Workers used fine metals, shark skin, silk ropes, and...

Matching Samurai Swords to Your Practice Style

Matching Samurai Swords to Your Practice Style

The right samurai sword must match how you plan to train. A katana works best for kendo and iaido training, while the shorter wakizashi fits close fighting. The small tanto...

Matching Samurai Swords to Your Practice Style

The right samurai sword must match how you plan to train. A katana works best for kendo and iaido training, while the shorter wakizashi fits close fighting. The small tanto...

Tanto Vs Wakizashi: a Tale of Two Blades

Tanto Vs Wakizashi: a Tale of Two Blades

The tantō and wakizashi are two different Japanese blades, each with its own use in battle. The tantō is a short blade (15-30 cm) from early Japan that works best...

Tanto Vs Wakizashi: a Tale of Two Blades

The tantō and wakizashi are two different Japanese blades, each with its own use in battle. The tantō is a short blade (15-30 cm) from early Japan that works best...