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 ...

A museum packed with samurai weapons and armor stands near the iconic Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni, a short drive from the Marine Corps air station in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan. The Kashiwabara ...

At Fusahiro Shimojima’s workshop, in the industrial city of Saitama, fires rage in small pits and an earthen floor absorbs the din of hammering. The Japanese swordsmith pounds the nascent blade of his ...