The samurai may not have ruled japan for centuries but their discipline and devotion lives on. These days the way of the samurai is practised in martial arts.   A visit to a samurai master is a privilege and no laughing matter. “The swords are frighteningly sharp. We were all scared and wanted to giggle” says one recent visitor who quickly realised that would not be the done thing. “When a samurai master tells you to be quiet, you shut up. As I said those swords are sharp”.  Training in the true art takes years – for the first three years apprentices practice only with wooden swords.   To learn the way of the samurai and feel the weight of a real sword is rare but it can be arranged…