The global history of the Japanese sword

I wonder how Western interest in Japanese swords may eventually effect their production. At least one Westerner has already become a qualified swordsmith after a Japanese apprenticeship and I am sure that it cannot be too long before some Gaikokujin is entering the annual sword-making competitions. A foreigner who becomes a Mukansa swordsmith is no more far fetched than one becoming a Yokozuna in another very conservative and traditional Japanese area - Sumo. It would certainly be most interesting to be around in 100 years time to see how today's Shinsaku-to are regarded and the place they have found within the global history of the Japanese sword.