Nihontō and shintō

The article focuses on the presence of elements derived from Japan’s native religion, shintō, visible in contexts referring to Japanese swords, nihontō. The text briefly discusses the idea of kami in Shintoism and touches on mythological stories about Japanese deities in which the sword plays an important role, and then describes Japanese edged weapons, focusing on swords of the feudal era. Subsequently, the author pays attention to the process of forging the blade, the work of blacksmiths, and beliefs regarding Japanese swords, including the custom of offering nihontō to the gods. The final paragraphs are devoted to martial arts and etiquette associated with weapons in Japan.