Mishima's Sword: Travels in Search of a Samurai Legend by Christopher Ross

Don’t pick up Mishima's Sword expecting a rollicking cross-Japan travel tour. The search for the sword really ends up being more intellectual than physical search for the sword the Japanese writer and ultra-nationalist used to commit seppuku.

The book brings together a short biography of Mishima, combined with quick histories of swordmaking, Japanese martial arts, samurai culture, and just a hint of life in Tokyo. 

The narrative is compelling and the book is loaded with amazing factoids - some of which you may want to unlearn.