Next to geisha, one of the most romanticized images of Japan in the Western world is that of the samurai. These figures of strength and honor have been depicted in numerous Hollywood films and anime series, but it is often overlooked that the samurai were actually an entire class of people in pre-industrial Japan. Some were indeed warriors, but they also served in other roles of nobility. They were highly educated and often excelled in other interests, such as the fine arts, and were expected to follow a strict code of conduct called Bushido, or “Way of the Warrior”.
As famous as the samurai are their weapons, most particularly the katana. The samurai considered these artfully crafted steel weapons so precious that they often named them and considered them to have their own soul. Prominent samurai developed their own sword styles and techniques that were passed down from generation to generation. The process that went into making katana was labor-intensive and took several craftsmen to forge, fold and polish the metal blade as well as furnish the hilt and sheath.
Today, there are still several Japanese families that continue the tradition of swordcraft. Unlike commercial reproductions that are readily available, these katana are made by the same traditional techniques with the same materials as the samurai’s katana of yesteryear. Of course, Matt wanted to visit the shop of one of these authentic craftsmen and find a katana as a special souvenir of our time in Japan.
One afternoon in Kyoto, we made our way to the tiny store of the Hashimoto family and were awed by the various swords in their display room. The saleswoman took utmost care in presenting swords for us to examine and explaining differences in quality and construction. Matt selected a gleaming blade that was made in style of the famous samurai Musashi. No doubt it will proudly be on display in our home when we return to the States.
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