What does this mean? Is this written in Japanese?
 

Hello, I need some help. Can anyone tell me what this means in English? Thank you, it is much appreciated! I apologise if the image is backwards or upside down, I can't really tell if it is right or not.

Hi.
It is 昭和12年　(Showa 12 y).
The year is 12 of the Showa-Era.

The Showa-Era is 1926-1989 A.D.

The equivalent A.D. is 1937
So it means "1937"

Hope this helps.

Can you explain the difference between 和 and the second character in the image?　

No, I can't.
I recognized the difference, but I judged it as typo.
I thought about another possibility but I gave up because it seemed too obvious.

Could you mind if you show me the true answer?
To learn something new is very interesting. :)

Personally, my reaction after seeing the second and last kanji was that either it's a script I don't know, it's some weird version of Chinese simplified (but I know 年 is 年 even in simplified, so that seems wrong), or mistakes made by a non-speaker of Japanese.

Thanks
 

Much thanks, that is actually from a sword I bought a couple of days ago. I have one more thing I need translated though. The above inscription was on the tang. The other image I will post is on one side of the guard.

Need this translated into English
 

Hey guys need help again...this is the only other part of the sword (it is on the guard) that has an inscription/signature. Anyone know what it says? Sorry if it is hard to see.

Thanks so much!!!