Katana

Historically, katana (刀) were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (日本刀, nihontō) that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands.

History

The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:

The first use of "katana" (gatana) as a word to describe a long sword that was different from a tachi occurs as early as the Kamakura Period (1185–1333). These references to "uchigatana" and "tsubagatana" seem to indicate a different style of sword, possibly a less costly sword for lower-ranking warriors. The evolution of the tachi into the katana seems to have started during the early Muromachi period (1337 to 1573). Starting around the year 1400, long swords signed with the "katana" signature were made. This was in response to samurai wearing their tachi in what is now called "katana style" (cutting edge up). Japanese swords are traditionally worn with the signature facing away from the wearer. When a tachi was worn in the style of a katana, with the cutting edge up, the tachi's signature would be facing the wrong way. The fact that swordsmiths started signing swords with a katana signature shows that some samurai of that time period had started wearing their swords in a different manner.

Katana (disambiguation)

Katana is Japanese for backsword and often refers to uchigatana, especially in English. For a list of fictional katana, see Katanas in fiction. Katana may also refer to:

Dreamcast

The Dreamcast (Japanese: ドリームキャスト, Hepburn: Dorīmukyasuto) is a home video game console released by Sega on November 27, 1998 in Japan, September 9, 1999 in North America, and October 14, 1999 in Europe. It was the first in the sixth generation of video game consoles, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Nintendo's GameCube and Microsoft's Xbox. The Dreamcast is Sega's final home console, marking the end of the company's 18 years in the console market.

In contrast to the expensive hardware of the unsuccessful Sega Saturn, the Dreamcast was designed to reduce costs with "off-the-shelf" components, including a Hitachi SH-4 CPU and an NEC PowerVR2 GPU. Released in Japan to a subdued reception, the Dreamcast enjoyed a successful U.S. launch backed by a large marketing campaign, but interest in the system steadily declined as Sony built hype for the upcoming PlayStation 2. Sales did not meet Sega's expectations despite several price cuts, and the company continued to incur significant financial losses. After a change in leadership, Sega discontinued the Dreamcast on March 31, 2001, withdrawing from the console business and restructuring itself as a third-party publisher. 9.13 million Dreamcast units were sold worldwide.

Faces (Earth, Wind & Fire album)

Faces is the tenth studio album, a double-LP by R&B artists Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1980 on ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached number 2 and number 10 on the Billboard Black and Pop albums charts.

It has been certified gold in the US by the RIAA. In a 2007 interview when asked which EWF album is his favorite Earth, Wind & Fire leader Maurice White replied "Probably Faces because we were really in tune, playing together and it gave us the opportunity to explore new areas".

The lead-off single was "Let Me Talk". The songs "You", and "Sparkle" followed as single releases. Unlike previous Earth, Wind and Fire albums, there was no U.S. tour in support of the album. This was also the last Earth Wind and Fire recording with guitarist Al McKay, who left the group the next year. This album is noted for featuring Steve Lukather, guitarist for EWF's label mate Toto, on the songs "Back on the Road" and "You Went Away".

2 extra interludes have been included as part of the album since the release of the Columbia Master's collection in 2011. The track "Oriental" comes directly before "Faces" while "Pipe Organ" follows it.

Faces (Star Trek: Voyager)

"Faces" is the 14th episode of Star Trek: Voyager.

Plot

Lieutenant Paris (now Junior Grade, evinced by the partially filled pip on his collar), Chief Engineer Torres and Ensign Durst fail to return from an away mission to a planet. The away team have been captured by the Vidiians, and a Vidiian scientist has used advanced medical technology to create two forms of Torres from her mixed DNA, one pure Klingon and one pure human. The scientist hopes to create a cure for the Phage, a deadly disease that afflicts his entire race, by studying the unusual resistance that Klingon metabolism has to it. Commander Chakotay takes a team to investigate and discovers that the caves in which the away team were working have shifted. They deduce that the caves are illusions: advanced holography as used by the Vidiians in a previous encounter with the Voyager crew.

The human version of Torres, meanwhile, is kept imprisoned with Paris and Durst. The Vidiian scientist studying Klingon Torres sees her going through the first symptom of severe agony, but she is fighting off the disease. Meanwhile, Paris, still in the holding cells, finds B'Elanna as a full human. While there, B'Elanna explains her origins, of how her father left when she was five and how she did everything to hide her Klingon heritage as a child. Klingon B'Elanna tries to use her feminine charm to have the scientist release her, but his desire to find a cure overrules his lust. In the holding cells, two guards arrive and take Ensign Durst. The human B'Elanna is scared as opposed to her Klingon half's relentless tenacity. After reviewing what they know from the last time the Vidiians encountered Voyager, the crew begin running simulations on how to get past the Vidiian force fields. In a naive effort to calm his prisoner, the Vidiian scientist kills Durst and uses his face to cover his Phage-ravaged features to try to better impress Klingon B'Elanna.

Faces (John Berry album)

Faces is an album released by American country music artist John Berry. It was released in 1996 by Capitol Nashville. It peaked at #9 on the Top Country Albums chart, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album's singles "Change My Mind," "She's Taken a Shine" and "I Will, If You Will" all reached Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs charts.

Track listing

Personnel