I took these pictures last year when I went to the heritage festival here in Edmonton, AB. I have a passion for some martial arts and the demonstrations that took place here were from a Japanese sword-play art called Kenjutsu (Kenjitsu alternate spelling). There are only four images because I took two videos, then the card on my camera was full after that.
Have fun checking them out! (Note: These images are very large (8 MP) so click them for effect!)
The figure below is the main weapon they use in Kenjutsu. It is called a Katana. They are very skilled with this weapon and it takes years of practice before you are even allowed to use it.
The image below is a ceremonial drum they use to signal the beginning and end of practices; it is also designed to help keep the Kata (or choreographed practice) in time. This drum is not only used in Kenjutsu, it is also used in many other Japanese martial arts.
The figure below is an illustration of some of the tools they use to practice. It is called a Tamashigiri Cutting Mat and it is usually bamboo with straw rolled around it; this gives the approximate density of a human limb, the Katana can cut through it easily.
In the image below you can see various shards of Bamboo Mat lying around after being cut. This stuff is thick - a Katana is no toy.
Interestingly enough, Katanas (or samurai swords) are generally rated according to how many bodies it can cut through in one slash. For example, a 3 - bodied sword is more powerful than a 2 - bodied sword. To determine this, a swordsman would perform a Jodan-Giri (downward slash) cut on the hips of 3 cadavers and the inscription on the sword would say 3 - bodies Ryu Guruma (3 - bodies hip cut).
Note: Japanese words are in italics, and I cannot certify the accuracy of these words.