Uchigatana consists of a steep saki-zori and stout sugata. The uchigatana was the descendant of the Tachi Nowadays, Japanese swords are still commonly seen in annual competition hosted by the All Japan Swordsmith Association while the antique and modern forged swords can be found and purchased at very high prices. The curved sword, as a result, is way more effective for a warrior to wield on horseback. The Japanese sword known today has deep, graceful curve that reflects the changing form of warfare in Japan. In this age, uneven curves had been replaced by sharp, tight ones, and the center of the curve moved up the blade. The period from 987 – 1596 is considered the pinnacle of Japanese swordcraft. Some other versions with unusual shapes and techniques were probably derived from China, or directly imported through trade. The predecessor of the Japanese swords are straight Jōkotō that were said to be created by samurai in the middle of Heian period. Shinsakutō (新作刀 “newly made swords” 1953–present).Jōkotō (上古刀 “ancient swords”, until around 900 A.D.).The development of Japanese swords is divided into 6 stages Sword mei, which is known as the owner’s signature, is traditionally presented in kanji and chiseled onto the tang of the sword. Besides, the manufacture of other aspects of the mountings (koshirae) including habaki (blade collar and scabbard wedge), menuki (decorative grip swells), fuchi and kashira (handle collar and cap), saya lacquer, etc, also received similar levels of artistry. Scabbard is called a saya in Japanese and the handguard piece, which often intricately designed as an individual work of art – especially in later years of the Edo period, is referred as a tsuba.

Moreover, the forging of blade was very time-consuming, typically took weeks or even months and considered as sacred art. Each blade has a unique profile, mostly dependent on the swordsmith and the construction method. Blade is the most prominent part of the sword. Normally, a sword would contain three parts: blade, scabbard, and mei. Knight vs Samurai: What Are The Differences Between Them?.The most common Japanese sword types are known as the katana, tsurugi, wakizashi, odachi, and tachi

Short katana