THE ONLY PLACE THAT I KNOW OF THAT HAS A PROGRAM TO PROMOTE AND HELP FUND CRAFTSMEN OF NOTE IS JAPAN. THEY HAVE MANY PEOPLE WHO EXCEL IN MANY CRAFTS SUCH AS PAPER MAKING, CALIGRAPHY, CERAMICS, ECT. THEY ARE JUDGED AND IF WORTHY DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL TREASURES FOR LIFE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT GRANTS OR FUNDING GOES WITH THAT HONOR BUT IT WOULD HELP THEM SELL THEIR CRAFTS IF NOTHING ELSE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY SWORD MAKERS AMONG THAT GROUP AS I FEAR MANY OF JAPANS OLD CRAFTS HAVE DISSAPEARED AS HAS HAPPENED ELSEWHERE.
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