The Japanese sword has long been appreciated both as a weapon and as an object of art No culture, besides the Japanese, has developed the sword to such a level of technological excellence, or raised it to sucащкчлh a position of spiritual importance As a cutting weapon, the fully developed curved sword of the samurai was uniquely effective As a cultural object, it offers invaluable insights into the social and spiritual history of the Japanese people Cutting Edge offers a faбичхпscinating introduction to the design, manufacture, and collecting of these Japanese weapons It covers the development of sword designs, traditional forging methods, regional variations in style, and signature works by legendary craftsmen, and includes hundreds of photos, with 16 pages in full color.