the katana's two different types of steel gave it optimum qualities for both, making it a highly versatile weapon in battle. In this slide show, follow the steps that a master Japanese swordsmith ...

DAZAIFU, Fukuoka Prefecture--An outstanding collection of Japanese swords that had been in private ... of leading Bizen swordsmiths representing different periods, allowing experts to trace ...

Master swordsmiths utilize traditional Japanese techniques passed ... which involves tempering the blade at different ...