Gifu Prefecture

According to historian and author Stephen Turnbull on the Netflix documentary The Age of Samurai, “the samurai’s most iconic weapon was the katana, the Japanese sword, widely regarded as the finest sword ever made in world history. It had a very sharp resilient blade, which was curved, and it enabled a samurai to deliver a devastating stroke.” For samurai, the katana – and other bladed weapons such as the tachi, tanto, and wakizashi – was such an essential part of life that they were required to wear them at all times as a signal of their status. But it was more than just a weapon for battle; it also provided spiritual protection. Having a sword on display in your home was comparable to putting a crucifix on your wall; it warded against evil spirits, signified your belief, and it was a symbol of your strength. However, the samurai class was outlawed in the 1870s following the Meiji restoration. Today Japan is such a nation of peace that a direct descendent of one of Japan’s greatest ever warlords, Oda Nobunaga, is world champion figure skater Oda Nobunari (though it is interesting that both achieved success due to their proficiency with blades).…