Swordsmiths in central Japan have performed a New Year ritual to pray for safety and success this year.
The Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum in the city of Seki, Gifu Prefecture, holds the Japanese sword forging ceremony every year on January 2. The city is one of the major production areas of knives in Japan.
On Friday, seven artisans heated up steel to more than 1,000 degrees Celsius. They then pounded the metal with hammers to remove any impurities.
About 90 visitors watched and took photos of the swordsmiths at work.
A woman in her 20s said she was impressed by the traditional high-level technique, and fascinated by the intensity of the sparks and the earnestness of the artisans.
AloJapan.com