Katana-makers use two types of tamahagane ... In the final stage, metalworkers add a decorated guard of iron or other metals at the sword's hilt. Next, carpenters fit the weapon with a lacquered ...

The experts discovered an iron sword and a bronze mirror in the clay ... The patterns are identical to the patterns inscribed on a type of ancient mirror called “Daryukyo.” ...

KASHIHARA, Nara Prefecture--An iron sword that at more than 2 meters long ... It is 2.37 meters long and about 6 cm wide and of a type called “dakoken,” meaning the blade is slightly bent ...