Depictions of swashbuckling fights on Japanese battlefields have often graced the silver screen, bringing international fame to the samurai and his indispensable sword. Admired for their craftsmanship, swords hold a special place in Japan not only as weapons, but as an art form as well.
The current exhibition at the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, "Japanese Sword Masterpieces from the Seikado Collection: A Thousand Years of Tradition," explores the world of the master swordsmith with a display of blades and metal accessories mostly dating from the Kamakura (1192-1333) and Edo (1603-1867) periods.
Traditional Japanese swordmaking is more than just a craft; it provides a profound spiritual experience for the swordsmith who brings the weapon into existence. Master smiths went beyond the mechanics of swordmaking to create implements of war that were exceedingly sharp and strong, beautiful to look at and finely crafted -- and which possessed the spirit of the samurai. Supported by his atelier, the master poured his soul into the process, passing down his secrets to his disciples and succeeding generations of his school.