The blade glints in the sunshine, the light catching a swirling pattern embedded into the metal. This wood-grain effect is created when steel is sandwiched together and carefully twisted, an ancient ...

SEKI, Gifu -- An annual New Year's traditional Japanese sword forging ceremony was held on Jan. 2 in this central Japan city, known as a cutlery production center. At the forge in the Seki Kaji Densho ...

Situated in a nondescript yet picturesque spot in Kyotongo City in Japan’s coastal region of Tango, is a forge or smithy that makes traditional katana by hand. These are the kinds of swords that were ...