Crafting a Samurai Sword

  • By Rima Chaddha and Audrey Resutek
  • Posted 10.09.07
  • NOVA

It has been said that the samurai's sword was his soul. Perhaps this deep attachment had something to do with the perfect melding of form and function found in the katana, as the famous curved sword is known in Japan. Invented a millennium ago, the katana remains a marvel of aesthetic beauty and skillful engineering. In this slide show, follow the steps that a master Japanese swordsmith takes today to craft what is arguably the most legendary of swords.

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Step by painstaking step, see what it takes to create this iconic Japanese weapon.

This feature originally appeared on the site for the NOVA program Secrets of the Samurai Sword.

Credits

© WGBH Educational Foundation

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