JAPANESE SWORDS AND SPEARS [Katana to Yari]

Japan has a long history of using iron weapons, especially of using swords. It is said that about three hundred years B.C. the people of the Japanese islands fought with straight-blade swords. Swords were not only weapons but they were the spiritual symbols of the Samurai. For those who mastered the martial arts of Ken-jyutu or Ken-do the sword was a very strong weapon. Swords are very unique weapons and they are classified in various ways. A Japanese sword is defined by its maker, and only hand made swords made by traditional processes are considered in the classifications. A machine made sword is not classified as a Japanese sword, even though it has the same function. Identifying Japanese swords is difficult.