Japan, with its history of seclusion, has long fascinated Westerners. When the country opened up to trade with the West in the mid-1850s, every aspect of Japanese culture—from the buildings and furniture, to the artworks and handcrafts, to the way Japanese people dressed and drank their tea—was endlessly fascinating. It's no wonder, then, that Japanese antiques are among the most collectible today. Advanced sword-making techniques and...Continue Reading