Katana

samurai · Japanese weapons · sword craft · feudal Japan

Curved single blade. Unlike many swords around the world, a katana has one sharp edge and curves slightly, which made it perfect for the fighting style of samurai warriors in feudal Japan.

Two-handed grip. The long handle was designed so a warrior could hold it with both hands, giving them more power and control when fighting.

Edge facing up. Samurai wore their katanas with the sharp edge pointing upward, which made it faster to draw and swing in battle.

From old swords. Many katanas were actually made by cutting down and reshaping older Japanese swords called tachi, giving them new life as a different weapon.

Name used worldwide. While katana is a specific Japanese sword, the word katana is now used to describe single-edged swords from many different cultures around the world.