The Katana — Soul of the Samurai

It took a master swordsmith three months to make a single katana. The blade was folded a thousand times, creating thousands of alternating layers of hard and soft steel that gave the sword its legendary combination of sharpness and flexibility. When a samurai was done, the sword was tested for its edge by cutting through a condemned prisoner. The katana was not a weapon. It was a test of character — in the making, in the carrying, and in the moment of use. The samurai believed the sword contained a spirit.

These signs carry the katana, the tsuba (guard), the family mon, and the polished surface that reflects the warrior's own face.