Attention to detail, design, and decoration are hallmarks of traditional Japanese aesthetics, and these values are shown off splendidly by the decorative elements and accoutrements of the Japanese sword. Furthermore, the sword is believed to be an almost sacred item, capturing the soul and spirit of the samurai warrior -- known as bushido. As a result, it has a deep symbolic content that resonates within Japanese culture.

The exhibition "Masterworks of Sword-making: Swords of the Bizen School and Metal Fittings," currently at the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, provides an opportunity to view the oeuvre of Japanese swords and accompanying metal accessories from the Heian to Edo periods (10th to 17th centuries). Each piece in the collection is exquisitely crafted, highlighting the incredible skill and handiwork involved in metalwork and swordmaking.

In a tour de force, the exhibition room of the Seikado Museum shimmers from the collective gleam of the 30 blades in the collection. Each is displayed horizontally, and the overall effect is that of a row of majestically seated samurai warriors.