[rassedgesse]

Are you asking about katana, a Japanese style sword, or a Nihonto, a Japanese style sword traditionally made in Japan. With all of the makers in various countries now, there is a big difference between the two. It used to be that they were one and the same because Japan was pretty much the only place that made Japanese style swords. Since the mid nineties though, the number of places to buy a Japanese style katana has exploded so that it is important to differentiate between a katana and a Nihonto. Right now I use katana that were made in Cambodia, Thailand, and China, and am getting one mounted that was made in the U.S. Used to have one from the Phillipines also, but it got retired.
I have six katana that get used on a fairly regular basis. I do not own a Nihonto, and will probably never be able to convince myself to shell out the requisite money for one. However, things change alot so I may own one someday.