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 ...

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 ...

It’s the East vs the West. A 16th-century Samurai armed with a katana and honor faces off against a medieval European Knight ...

Battles follow a basic pattern of “attacker,” “receiver,” and “breaker.” Attackers have light and heavy attacks; receivers can evade and guard; and breakers can use kick and throw techniques to break ...