Japanese sword-making, or "nihontō", has a rich and revered tradition that spans over a thousand years. The process of crafting Japanese swords involves a combination of metallurgy, artistry, and spiritual significance. The most famous type of Japanese sword is the katana. Seki city of Gifu pref is a famous Japanese sword-making city in Japan.
Materials:
- Steel: Japanese swords are typically made of a combination of two types of steel - hard, high-carbon steel for the cutting edge (called "hagane") and softer, more flexible steel for the spine (called "jigane").
- Tamahagane: Traditional Japanese steel, made from iron sand and charcoal, is known as tamahagane. It is a labor-intensive process involving smelting and folding the steel multiple times to remove impurities.
