These people are all fans of Samurai swords

Students wield mock Japanese swords in a training session to learn techniques for drawing a sword. Photos: ANN/The Yomiuri Shimbun

More and more people are being drawn to the wonder of Japanese swords, with a sizeable number actually wanting to hold one in their hands. What is it about Japanese swords that ensnares the hearts of people today? I love samurai TV dramas myself and took a look into the mystery.

At a dojo (training centre) I visited, several men and women in hakama (skirt-like pants) were swinging mock Japanese swords through the air in complete silence. Only the sound of the blades parting the air could be heard.