ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Tameshigiri

Tameshigiri is a Japanese word that means "test cutting" in English. It's a traditional martial arts practice where people use a sword (usually a katana) to cut various materials like rolled up straw mats or bamboo.

Think of it like using scissors to cut paper, but instead of paper, you're cutting things like giant roll-ups made of straw! The idea is to practice and show off your sword skills, and also to test the sharpness and quality of the sword.

When someone wants to practice tameshigiri, they usually set up a special area called a tatami, which is made up of layers of rolled-up straw mats. The person then stands or kneels in front of the tatami and, using the sword, cuts it in a specific way to make sure the sword is sharp and well made.

Tameshigiri is a very old practice that was originally used by samurai to test their swords before battle to make sure they were sharp enough to use in combat. Nowadays, it's mostly done as a form of martial arts training and demonstration.