Editing Japanese sword (section)

=== Classification by period ===
{{main|Japanese sword#History}}
Each Japanese sword is classified according to when the blade was made.:<ref name="nagoyatrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20201029155106/https://www.touken-world.jp/tips/10024/ Transition of kotō, shintō, shinshintō, and gendaitō.] Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Touken World</ref>
* ''Jōkotō'' ({{lang|ja|上古刀}} "ancient swords", until around 900 A.D.)
* ''Kotō'' ({{lang|ja|古刀}} "old swords" from around 900–1596)
* ''Shintō'' ({{lang|ja|新刀}} "new swords" 1596–1780)
* ''Shinshintō'' ({{lang|ja|新々刀}} "new new swords" 1781–1876)
* ''Gendaitō'' ({{lang|ja|現代刀}} "modern or contemporary swords" 1876–present)

Historically in Japan, the ideal blade of a Japanese sword has been considered to be the ''kotō'' in the [[Kamakura period]], and the swordsmiths from the [[Edo period]] to the present day from the ''Shinto'' period focused on reproducing the blade of a Japanese sword in the Kamakura period. There are more than 100 Japanese swords designated as [[National Treasure (Japan)|National Treasures in Japan]], of which the ''Kotō'' of the Kamakura period account for 80% and the ''tachi'' account for 70%.<ref name="toukenkaku">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200927012659/https://www.touken-world.jp/tips/10006/ 日本刀の格付けと歴史.] Touken World</ref><ref name="sankei170702">[https://web.archive.org/web/20171102185636/https://www.sankei.com/column/news/170702/clm1707020008-n1.html 鎌倉期の古名刀をついに再現 論説委員・長辻象平.] [[Sankei Shimbun]]. July 2, 2017</ref>

Japanese swords since ''shintō'' are different from ''kotō'' in forging method and steel. This was due to the destruction of the Bizen school due to a great flood, the spread of the Mino school, and the virtual unification of Japan by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], which made almost no difference in the steel used by each school.<ref name="toukenshin"/><ref name="toukenutsu"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swordsofnorthshire.com/the-secrets-and-traditional-methods-of-forging-japanese-swords|title=The Secrets and Traditional Methods of Forging Japanese Swords}}</ref> Japanese swords since the ''Shintō'' period often have gorgeous decorations carved on the blade and lacquered ''[[maki-e]]'' decorations on the scabbard. This was due to the economic development and the increased value of swords as arts and crafts as the [[Sengoku period]] ended and the peaceful [[Edo period]] began.

Japanese swords are still commonly seen today; antique and modern forged swords can be found and purchased. Modern, authentic Japanese swords (''nihontō'') are made by a few hundred swordsmiths. Many examples can be seen at an annual competition hosted by the All Japan Swordsmith Association,<ref>{{cite web|title= All Japan Swordsmith Association|url= http://www.tousyoukai.jp/english/index.shtml|access-date= 2010-02-16|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100219113644/http://www.tousyoukai.jp/english/index.shtml|archive-date= 2010-02-19|url-status= dead}}</ref> under the auspices of the Nihontō Bunka Shinkō Kyōkai (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture).<ref name="NBSK2009">[http://www.nbsk-jp.org/english/newsletter2009.html Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation: NBSK newsletter (September 2009)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213195056/http://www.nbsk-jp.org/english/newsletter2009.html |date=2010-12-13 }} Retrieved 2010-02-16.</ref> However, to maintain the quality of Japanese swords, the Japanese government limits the number of Japanese swords a swordsmith can make in a year to 24 (up to 2 swords per month). Therefore, many of the swords called "Japanese sword" distributed around the world today are made in China, and the manufacturing process and quality are not authorized.<ref name="sankei1806221"/><ref name="sankei1806222"/>
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