A sword was stolen while in transit from Chicago IL to Austin TX on 6/28/2008:

1st Generation Hizen Masahiro, ca. 1624

See this page for additional information and contact details.

Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds (UK) is running series of public seminars in March-May 2008 with 'The Arms and Armour of Japan' being one of them.

Information from the Royal Armouries website: 

The Arms and Armour of Japan

Japanese arms and armour has functional, decorative and ritual qualities that have fascinated observers since the first Europeans visited Japan in the mid-16th century.

This seminar will use surviving examples to give a fascinating insight into the traditions and techniques of Japanese armourers and swordsmiths.

Ian Bottomley, the recently retired Curator of Oriental Arms & Armour, is expected to be one of the guest speakers.

Date:
Saturday 12 April 2008

Opening times:
10.30am - 4.00pm 

SEKI, Gifu -- Hundreds of people gathered to watch sword makers in Seki, a town famous for producing Japanese swords, as the craftsmen showed off their skills in an annual New Year's ceremony expressing hope for safety in the sword-making industry.

A total of 19 sword makers dressed in white gowns and formal headwear took part in the traditional ceremony on Tuesday, working with steel heated to over 1,000 degrees Celsius.