| According to the sword smiths of the Yamato | | | | the sword. The resulting sword had a curved design |
| Province, the first Katana wasforged in 700 AD by | | | | and single cutting edge. Although the other sword |
| Amakuni. Amakuni was the head of the sword | | | | smiths thought the design was ludicrous, Amakura |
| smiths, employedto make swords for the emperor | | | | continued to refine the design. He gave the new |
| and his army. Amakuni was always on good | | | | swords to the emperor's army. |
| termswith the emperor. However, one day as the | | | | When the emperor's army returned from battle with |
| emperor passed by Amakuni and hisson, the emperor | | | | the new swords not one sword was broken. As the |
| did not nod to Amakuni. Amakuni thought this was | | | | emperor passed Amakuni he smiled at him and said, |
| strange untilhe noticed the swords of the emperor's | | | | "You are an expert sword maker. None of the |
| army. Nearly half of the soldier's swordswere broken. | | | | swords you mad failed in this battle." |
| Amakuni and his son collected the broken swords and | | | | Although this is a fascinating myth about the origin of |
| examined them. All of the swords had been poorly | | | | the katana, it is stilla myth. The actual origin of the |
| forged. Amakuni, with tears in his eyes, swore to | | | | katana was a much longer road full of wars,invasions, |
| make a sword which would not break. | | | | innovations, failures and triumphs. It is said that the |
| For seven days Amakuni and his son, Amakura, | | | | sword isthe soul of the Samurai, but it would be |
| prayed to the Shinto gods. After their prayer | | | | more accurate to say that the swordis soul of Japan. |
| Amakuni gathered sand ore and refined it. For thirty | | | | During this month we will briefly investigate the |
| days father and son worked on the new design of | | | | Japanese Sword. |