For over a 1000 years the sword has played a crucial role in Japanese society, and even today it remains a ubiquitous object and symbol, in artistic terms and p... » 

For over a 1000 years the sword has played a crucial role in Japanese society, and even today it remains a ubiquitous object and symbol, in artistic terms and practical use in Japan's many fencing schools. This text explains the history and significance of the art, known in Japanese as Iaido. «