Japanese swords

The sword has had a long and varied history in Japanese culture, from the second century BC to modern times. I set this story at the begining of the Tokugawa shogunate in the late 1500s. The shoguns ruled Japan for over 650 years, and their will was enforced by the samurai, or warrior, class. Creating a samurai sword was a sacred art. The sword was considered the soul of the samurai, representing his honor and character. A Japanese swords with would often meditate, fast, or pray to cleanse his mind and soul before creating a samurai’s japanese swords.

Although they do not apear in this story, many different craftsmen were involved in creating a Japanese sword. Swordsmiths created the main body, polishers sharpened the blade, wood-carvers made the scabbard, and other craftsmen created the finishings, such as the sword guard. The Japanese master/apprentice relationship is very different from the Western model. Very rarely, if ever, does the apprentice ask questions. The apprentice usually stands back and observes the master. That is why Michio is left to come to his own conlusions as to why the swordsmen do not meet with Sensei’s approval. In this story I wanted to stay true to the traditional roles that the apprentice a master would play in ancient Japan.
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