The traditional katana sword is fashioned only from the purest steel, which the Japanese call tamahagane ... Katana-makers use two types of tamahagane: high-carbon, which is very hard and ...

In total, 31 Japanese swords of various styles line an exhibition room at the museum. Some of them are as valuable as government-designated important cultural properties, officials said.

Japanese sword making is a tradition that goes back centuries, and one that's carried on to this day. Each sword take dedication, skill and can take over 18 months to create. The resulting blades ...