Explores the origins and development of the famous samurai sword as a work of art and a weapon and discusses its identification, evaluation, and care.
The author, John M. Yumoto, is perhaps the foremost authority on the samurai sword outside of Japan. A native of California, he began his study of Japanese swordcraft during his early childhood in Japan. While in Japan he studied under a number of masters from different schools and learned the art of sword polishing and of identification and evaluation. He has held membership in a number of sword clubs and at present is an active member of the Japan Society for the Preservation of the Samurai Sword and the Northern California Sword Club.