The Tetsuren Journal

The katana was not invented by one person but refined over centuries by Japanese swordsmiths. Here is how it took its classic form.

Is the katana a good sword? We weigh up its history, its strengths for precise cutting and its limitations.

The samurai class ended in 1868, but its values and martial traditions are far from forgotten in modern Japan.

Japanese swordsmiths combine steel, clay and fire to forge blades of great beauty. Discover their craft and some of the most famous names.

Clay hardening is what gives a katana its hamon, a hard edge and a resilient body. Here is how the process works and why it matters.

Making a katana takes months of skilled work. Here are the six traditional steps, from smelting tamahagane to polishing the finished blade.

Five lesser-known facts about the Bujinkan, one of the most modern Japanese martial arts.

Shinobi is the historical name of the ninja. Discover their origins in feudal Japan, how they differed from the samurai and how ninjutsu survives today.

Sojutsu, the traditional Japanese art of the spear, is far less known than kenjutsu. Here are five facts about it.