In "The Art of the Japanese Sword," master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a comprehensive view on the making, finishing & appreciation of Japanese blades

The Japanese sword, a unique work of art in steel, can be appreciated from a number of viewpoints. Its functionality as a weapon, the sophisticated metallurgy & scientific thinking utilized by the swordsmith, the shape of the blade itself & the different crystalline forms in the steel all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons

This book conveys to the reader a basic background regarding the Japanese sword, as well as an explanation of how to view & appreciate a blade. It also illustrates the details of how a sword is made & finished today

Modern craftsmen use completely traditional methods from the past to prepare their steel, forge the sword create the unique hardened edge

By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is actually made, the reader will be able to appreciate the Japanese sword more fully About the Author

Yoshindo Yoshihara is a 3rd-Gen. swordsmith. His grandfather Kuniie began making swords in 1933 in Tokyo & was ranked among the top swordsmiths in Japan during his career. Yoshindo lives and works in Tokyo with his son, who represents the 4th Gen. of swordsmiths in the family. Yoshindo, who is always training young swordsmiths & currently has 5 apprentices working with him, has been named an Important Cultural Property of the city & prefecture of Tokyo, and is a mukansa (top-ranked swordsmith) in Japan.

Leon Kapp, a molecular biologist, lives with his wife Hiroko in San Rafael, California. He has been seriously interested in Japanese swords for over twenty-five years & has spent a great deal of time learning about them from Yoshindo.

Hiroko Kapp is a writer for "Senken Shimbun News" of Tokyo & writes about fashion & the fashion industry in the US. She graduated from Musashi-no Art University in Tokyo. For 25 years, she was active in the apparel business & designed scarves for her own line in the US.