In Photos: Japan's stylish katana swords dating back to samurai warriors
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Swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara is seen heating "tamahagane" steel, as he operates a traditional bellows and sends air blasts to the forge, while charcoal burns, in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. By heating the tamahagane to a maximum of 1,300 degrees Celsius, impurities are burned. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
Katana works by swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara are seen in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. The one in the back shows beautiful "hamon" wave patterns along the edges of the blade. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
A heated tamahagane, to be used as material for Japanese katana, is being repeatedly hammered in accordance with verbal cues from Yoshindo Yoshihara, in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
Swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara shows a katana in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
Tamahagane steel, which is used to create Japanese swords, is seen in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
A heated piece of tamahagane steel is seen at the workshop of swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
A heated tamahagane, to be used as material for Japanese katana, is being repeatedly hammered in accordance with verbal cues from Yoshindo Yoshihara, in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
Swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara sits before a traditional bellows at his workshop in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
This photo provided by Yoshindo Yoshihara shows the process of a composite bar being forged into a single piece to create a Japanese sword. -
Clay is applied to the surface of what will be a katana sword's edge in this photo provided by Yoshindo Yoshihara. -
The "yaki-ire" heat-treating process is being carried out in this photo provided by Yoshindo Yoshihara. -
A firearms and swords registration certificate which is issued by Japan's prefectural boards of education is seen in this photo taken in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito) -
A chart created in 1942 that shows the nationwide ranking of swordsmiths is seen in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward on Feb. 14, 2022. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)
