<human>:  When a Japanese sword is forged, what is the name of the process?
<bot>: The process of forging a Japanese sword is called the tamahagane. The tamahagane is a very precise process where a swordsmith first makes a wooden mold of the blade, then he forges the blade in a heated iron forge. This process creates a very hard blade that can withstand repeated blows. The swordsmith then carefully removes the blade from the mold and sharpens it using a whetstone.