黒 kuro or 黒い kuroi means "black," and 剣 ken or 刀 katana refer to a sword. The three main divisions of Japanese blade length are: The inscription will be viewed as kanji on the surface of the tang: the first two kanji represent the province; the next pair is the smith; and the last, when present, is sometimes a variation of 'made by', or, 'respecfully'.What generally differentiates the different swords is their length. The bar increases in length during this process until it approximates the final size and shape of the finished sword blade. In fact, evasive body maneuvers were preferred over blade contact by most, but, if such was not possible, the flat or the back of the blade was used for defense in many styles, rather than the precious edge. Only the user who asked this question will see who disagreed with this answer. During the Kofun Period (250-538CE) Animism was introduced into Japanese society. Name: Katana Sword Blade Length: 60 -78 Cm long Handle Length: 1/3 of the Blade Length Weight: 1.1 to 1.6 kg Blade Type: Curved and single edged Used By: Samurai Warriors Place of Origin: Japan Date Produced: Muromachi period from 1392 to the present Katana Sword History. A high quality blade, ready for battle. Japanese words for black include ブラック, 黒, 黒い, 黒ばむ, 黒痣, 黒々, 黒猩猩 and 黒ん. Generically a sword is formally called 刀剣, as in the the firearms and swords control law which refers to various bladed weapons as 刀剣類. These are cut into the tang or the hilt-section of the blade, where they will be covered by the hilt later. This is an amazing piece. The sunobe is again heated, section by section and hammered to create a shape which has many of the recognisable characteristics of the finished blade.

Altering the shape will allow more resistance when fighting in hand-to-hand combat. In some instances, an "umbrella block", positioning the blade overhead, diagonally (point towards the ground, pommel towards the sky), would create an effective shield against a descending strike. I've had it for nearly two years now, and it is by far my favorite sword up to date. In 1933, during the Shōwa era (1926-1989), a sword making factory designed to re-establish the “spirit of Japan” through the art of sword making was built to preserve the legacy and art of swordsmiths and sword making.Heisei era (1989-2019, modern period, Post-war era), for a portion of the US occupation of Japan, sword making, swordsmiths and wielding of swords was prohibited. The production of swords in Japan is divided into time periods: The prestige and demand for these status symbols spiked the price for these fine pieces.During the Late-Edo period, Suishinshi Masahide wrote that swords should be less extravagant. I was blown away. a Wakizashi with a length of 59 cm is called an O-wakizashi (almost a Katana) whereas a Katana with 61 cm is called a Ko-Katana (for small Katana; but note that a small accessory blade sometimes found in the sheath of a long sword is also a "kogatana" (小刀)Since 1867, restrictions and/or the deconstruction of the samurai class meant that most blades have been worn Most old Japanese swords can be traced back to one of five provinces, each of which had its own school, traditions, and "trademarks" (e.g., the swords from Mino province were "from the start famous for their sharpness"). Modern, authentic Western historians have said that Japanese katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history, for their intended use.Each blade has a unique profile, mostly dependent on the swordsmith and the construction method. The Museum of Fine Arts states that when an artisan plunged the newly crafted sword into the cold water, a portion of his spirit was transferred into the sword.