I'm told the Japanese, do not sharpen their sword edges, they "polish" them.  I'm also told they say the difference between the Japanese sword is it's hardness, and that the knock-offs made in China are flexible whereas since Japanese swords are made to kill they do not flex upon contact with, what, the enemy's sword or torso?
    Well, hardness, when taken too far becomes brittleness, so we need to find someone out there who recently fought with swords made in both places so we can ask them.  
    I would love to see the difference between these two methods of manufacturing after an actual non-violent, non torso-contacting duel, keeping in mind it would entail multiple clashes of edge upon edge.  Does one sword break?
    And as far as performance, wouldn't this analogy hold true?
If you give Tiger Woods, a cheap set of golf clubs, doesn't he still devastate most of his competition?
If you give a master Samurai a well "polished" Chinese sword, doesn't he do the same, or does the Chinese sword flex upon contact with the Japanese sword, making a "bo-iiing".... sound, as it vibrates the master's wrists down through his arms into his body until he's shaken off his feet only to fall to the ground in a heap of body armor?
    Or was that Bugs Bunny versus the little Martian guy?

Just for fun.
What do you think?
Budd