The test for 8th degree black belt (hachidan) in Japanese swordsmanship is reputedly the most difficult test in the world, with a passing rate of around one percent. This short monograph discusses the evolution of ranks and titles in kendo as it emerged from the middle ages and explains the difficulty of the 8th dan test. It contains numerous photos, charts, and source citations and will be of interest to any martial artist, especially those involved in kendo or those interested in the evolution of Japan's martial arts ranking system.