NOVA: Secrets of the Samurai Sword 
Features: - For over a thousand years the Samurai sword has dominated the battlefields of Japan, instilled fear and terror into every enemy it faced, and evoked a spiritual way of life that continues even today. With unparalleled access, NOVA travels deep into Japan s ancient foundries, follows the craft of the traditional sword-smiths and attends Samurai fighting school to reveal the art and science behind m
Product Description: - For over a thousand years the Samurai sword has dominated the battlefields of Japan instilled fear and terror into every enemy it faced and evoked a spiritual way of life that continues even today. With unparalleled access NOVA travels deep into Japan s ancient foundries follows the craft of the traditional sword-smiths and attends Samurai fighting school to reveal the art and science behind making what many call the perfect sword.System Requirements:Running Time: 56 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/WGBH BOSTON Rating: NR UPC: 783421419193 Manufacturer No: WG41919
Customer Ratings: - Nascent s Opinion. Do you really need anything more than the Nova logo to know that this is an outstanding product? Of course not.
This story is, if anything, too short at 1 hour (approximately). The blade itself and the relevant science are covered well. The smelting, forging, sharpening, and polishing are covered, while several of the associated accessories don t fit within the allotted time. It shows the modern artisans using the time honored ways to make a sword worthy of defending a life and becoming an heirloom. We re not talking about $99.95 mass production swords here! This is illustrated when a kendo master defends himself against an arrow to the chest using katana and breathtaking skill.
The photography of the processes is gorgeous! You can practically feel the heat radiating from the screen as the smith toils over the forging process while folding and laminating layer after layer. - The sword making documentary is worth the price of admission. The most impressive and interesting part of this documentary, was the comprehensive documentation on how a sword is made, from the refinery to sword polishing.
The documentary includes extensive background, and excellent cineography of the whole event. I found it alot of fun and interesting to boot. - Secrets of the Samurai Sword. I do not consider myself a science person but I loved learning about how the Samurai sword was made!!!
- See it made.. This is an excellent video showing the technology developed over centuries by great craftsmen to produce not simply a weapon, but a work of art.
The video covers the art *and* science of producing a katana - the samurai s sword. It begins with workers making steel from ore. It moves to the swordmaker s art of forging a magnificently crafted weapon perfectly suited for the style of combat the culture revered. It shows that polishing and sharpening are a separate art also practiced by great craftsmen.
There is a great deal of science in the video that explains the properties of steel, how it is hardened, and how the weapon requires different steels to accomplish its task.
It isn t perfect, but this video is very good! - The Soul of the Samurai. Roughly an hour long fascinating documentary of how the infamous sword of the Samurai, the Katana, is made. Learn in detail about every interesting facet of the history and the amazing amount of work and skill that goes into making what is, I believe, the best sword in the world for over a thousand years.
Starting at the very beginning with the smelting of the special high grade iron sand that is only found in certain stream beds in Japan, to the 36 hour forging process involved by a skilled master in making the initial block of iron called Tamahageny. Pieces of which are passed onto another forge master to make the sword template and then to yet another master craftsman who polishes & sharpen and embellishes the blade with engravings etc.
Seen recently on the National Geographic Channel and featuring Dr Stephen Turnbull and Ian Bottomley, this major work is made all the more captivating with many clips of some of the last master sword makers around.
To see the amount of the physical work & effort and time and labour that goes into making one of these masterpieces is truly amazing. Modern day metallurgists are astounded and even baffled by way these swords are so perfectly made without relying on computers or robots or the use of complex formulas, chemistry or other measuring equipment, just the naked eye to measure the temperature of the flame and years of experience.
UK Viewers: WARNING!! Please make sure that your DVD can play with Region 1 DVD s and that your TV is NTSC compatible first.
If you enjoy this then do look out for Samurai: The Last Warrior. The Path of Honour, the Sword of Revenge which is also a REGION 1 + NTSC DVD. This documentary explains the history, evolution and final demise of the Samurai.
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NOVA: Secrets of the Samurai Sword (ID: B000XBPDYO)
