Katana
Katana is a traditional Japanese sword (nihonto) and was the main weapon of samurai. In English, katana is often called "samurai sword". 
Katana is is about one meter long and has a 60-73cm long, slender, and beautifully crafted blade. The blade goes all the way through the guard, tsuba, and the handle, tsuki. The scabbard of katana is called saya.
Katana dates back to Muromachi period (1392-1573) when it replaced it's precessor, tachi, which had a more curved blade. Tachi was developed from earlier tsurugi in 700-century. Unlike katana, tachi was carried it's sharp edge facing down, thus making it ideal for drawing when riding a horse.
Katana is not only stored, but also carried it's sharp edge up. This is because of belief that spirits can lay down to rest in the blade. There are a lot of beliefs to katana - for example that one should never step over katana or touch the saya, katana scabbard.
Touching blade is generally considered rude, but also it's bad idea since katana blade is very sharp.
Katana blade is very sensitive for moisture and humidity. Katana owners usually don't remove their blades from the scabbard during humid months of summer in Japan. When storing katana, one must oil it's surface occasionally to prevent rusting.
Katana is always manufactured by hand. The process of katana manufacturing includes a spiritual rite that swordsmith engages into and gives katana it's spirit. Currently in Japan there are about a hundred swordsmiths. The smith apprenticeship lasts at least five years, and their final test is evaluated by Cultural Agency (Bunka-cho).
Katana is always made by using special methods which allow it's blade to be exceptionally strong and sharp. The material of katana can be junk iron (almost anything will do), and the enforging process includes lots of hammering and twisting and turning. When the blade's steel is enforged to a steel, a special polishing and sharpening process takes place.
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During Meiji Restauration, katana became forbidden in Japan and most of them were melted or shipped to Europe. Still it is not uncommon for a family have inherited katana which is usually sacred, priceless object of the family.
At present in Japan, it is required to have a license if one wants to posses a katana. The katana must be registered in accordance with the Ju-to-ho (Japanese Firearms and Sword Law). The registration is done by the Education Board at a Toroku-shinsa-kaijo (sword evaluation meeting). Usually the senior members of Japanese art sword society are the ones who evaluate the applications.
To export sword from Japan, one must submit the sword to Bunka-cho-bijutsu-kogei-ka *Art and Craft Section of Cultural Agency. The Torokusho registration is exchanged to export permit which lasts a month. Then, 0ne might either send the sword via mail or carry it through the customs in Japan. Sometimes the seller can take care of the procedure for you, if you are only staying in Japan for a short period of time.
This Sword law of Japan applies to both antique and new swords. Only exception is Iaito and Mogito, training and decorative swords made from a zinc-aluminium alloy that is impossible to sharpen. Presently about, 2.3 million swords are registered in Japan.
