Antique Japanese Sword Katana attributed to Ko Kongo Hyoue with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
Summary
This blade is attributed to Ko Kongo Hyoue (古金剛兵衛) , which is the name of the school whose foundation dates back to the late Kamakura period (Early 14th century).
Kongo Hyoue (金剛兵衛) was a prestigious school founded by Kongo Hyoue Morikuni during the late Kamakura period (around 1278). It is said that Kongo Hyoue had strong relationship with Sairen school., one of the most well-known schools in the region. There were quite a few renowned swordsmiths who were from this school. They resided in Urayama, where Kamado shrine, also known as Kongo Houman, was located. All the swordsmiths who belonged to Kongo Hyoue school used Mori (盛) as their maker’s name, such as Moritsugu. The Nakago (tang) they created has a distinctive shape called Sotoba (卒塔婆) while this blade doesn’t have this characteristic due to Suriage (shorting the blade).
Kongo Hyoue has a strong relationship with Buddhism, as well. Those who belonged to Kongo Hyoue school exclusively forged swords for Reizan Houman Zan, a politically and militarily strong Buddhist organization at one point.
It is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token(特別保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK(Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai:日本美術刀剣保存協会). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, especially well preserved and high quality with artistic value.
*Please keep in mind that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu on the groove of this blade. If you like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)：69.7 cm (27.4 inches)
Curvature(Sori)：1.1 cm (0.43 inches)
Hamon：
The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process
Jimon(Jihada)：
visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process
Kissaki：Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword.
Nakago：Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword.
Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged.
Koshirae：Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya (Scabbard), Tsuka (Handle), Tsuba (Handguard).
Fuchi-Kashira：A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
In addition to the chrysanthemum, the design of the fuchi-kashira also features the kikyo (桔梗, Japanese bellflower).
The kikyo is a small, star-shaped flower that has been cherished in Japanese culture for centuries. Its elegant form and subtle beauty have made it a popular motif in traditional art and poetry, especially in tanka (短歌), since the Heian period (794–1185). The flower was originally called kichikō, but over time the pronunciation evolved to kikyō.
In ancient times, the kikyo was also associated with fortune-telling. The Japanese term kikkyō wo uranau (吉凶を占う) means “to divine good or bad fortune,” and the word kikkyō (吉凶, good or bad omen) was linked with the flower’s name. The earlier pronunciation kichikō was phonetically similar to kichi kō (吉更), which means “further good fortune.” For this reason, the kikyo came to be seen as a symbol of good luck and auspiciousness.
Tsuka and Menuki：Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
This menuki features a combination of chrysanthemum (菊, kiku) and paulownia (桐, kiri) motifs.
Both have long been regarded as noble and prestigious designs in Japan. The sixteen-petal chrysanthemum and the “go-san no kiri” (paulownia with 5–3 flower arrangement) are especially significant, as they are traditionally associated with the Imperial family.
These motifs were also favored by prominent samurai families, including Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In fact, in 1594 (Bunroku 3), Hideyoshi issued a decree prohibiting the unauthorized use of the chrysanthemum and paulownia crests, underscoring their symbolic importance and exclusivity.
Tsuba and Habaki：Tsuba is the handguard for the Japanese Sword and Habaki is the equipment to make the blade not touch its scabbard inside. It prevents the blade from getting rusty and chipped.
The design of this tsuba features daki-myōga (抱き茗荷), or entwined myōga gingers, rendered in sukashi-bori (openwork carving).
Myōga (茗荷), a type of Japanese ginger, is traditionally believed to offer protection from evil and is often used in family crests. The dakimyōga motif—where two myōga are depicted in an embracing or symmetrical arrangement—symbolizes harmony, protection, and auspicious fortune. The sukashi-bori technique, which involves cutting away parts of the metal to create patterns using negative space, adds a sense of lightness and depth, showcasing the artisan’s skill.
Kozuka：Kozuka is a small knife stored in Kozuka Hitsu(groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword).
The kozuka features a delicate gold inlay of a bell cricket (鈴虫, suzumushi) alongside autumn plants.
In Japanese culture, the bell cricket has long been cherished as a symbol of autumn. Its clear, gentle chirping is appreciated not as mere sound, but as something poetic and emotionally evocative—capturing the transient beauty of the changing seasons.
Unlike in many Western cultures, where insect sounds are often considered noise, in Japan they are regarded as voices—a natural form of music that reflects refined sensitivity to seasonal change. This aesthetic appreciation is deeply rooted in Japanese values.
Bell crickets frequently appear in traditional arts such as waka, haiku, and the tea ceremony, serving as emblems of elegance, introspection, and serene contemplation.
Kougai：Kougai is the equipment for Samurai to arrange or fix his hair style.
The kougai features a small bird depicted alongside plants. In Japanese art, the combination of plants and birds has long been cherished as a motif symbolizing the changing seasons and subtle beauty. It reflects a uniquely Japanese aesthetic that values harmony with nature and the fleeting passage of time.
Saya：Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
Authentication Paper：NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1023677)
NBTHK, also known as Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai (the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), is one of the oldest Japanese sword appraising organizations in modern-day Japan. They authenticated the blade on December 4th in the 6th year of Reiwa (2024). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society. The purchaser will receive this original certificate as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a PDF file for your record if you request.
Registration Number : Nara 13983
The Board of Education in Nara prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword. It is called Jyu Hou Token Rui Tourokusho (銃砲刀剣類登録証). Bunkacho (The Agency for Cultural Affairs) acknowledges a Japanese sword with this paper as a work of art.
The sword needs to be traditionally hand-forged and made of Tamahagane carbon steel to be registered in the system. With this paper, its owner in Japan can legally own an authentic Japanese sword. Based on this registration number, we will apply for its export permit.
This paper will need to be returned to the board of education when the sword is being shipped abroad, but you can receive a copy of it. An English translation of this registration paper is available on request.
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【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
【Japanese Sword& Export Process】
The Japanese swords we deal with are hand-forged edged swords made in Japan. It was made from the traditional carbon steel called TAMAHAGANE(玉鋼). Samurai Museum is familiar with the proper legal procedure for an antique/ authentic Japanese sword to be exported from Japan. We have sent more than 1000 Japanese swords for the past few years (～2025) to amazing owners who appreciate its historical value.
Each Japanese sword is registered under the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Board of Education in Japan. They issue a registration paper for each Japanese sword for its owner in Japan to legally possess it. The Japanese sword with its registration paper means it was traditionally hand-forged in Japan.
To legally export the sword from Japan to other countries, we will have to apply for its permit to the Agency for Cultural Affairs(Bunkacho) and return the original registration paper to the Board of Education. It normally takes around 2-4 weeks to receive this permit after submitting required documents. And we would like you to expect at least 1-1.5 months for your order to arrive at your given address after you ordered. For more detailed info, please click here.
It is allowed for residents in Japan to own authentic Japanese swords without a special license as long as they come with registration papers. Please feel free to contact us if you are a resident of Japan, whether temporarily or permanently. We will also assist you when you leave Japan and need to obtain the export permit.
【Payment Method】
We accept payment through Stripe (Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. Also, you don’t need to make an account on Stripe for the checkout. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. After confirming your payment, we will apply for an export permit. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, CAD,EUR CHF or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
* If the amount is above 1 million JPY, Stripe or wire transfer will be the only options for payment.
【Shipping】
We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Belgium, France, Finland, UK, Hong Kong, Australia. If you don’t live in these countries and like to order, please contact us first before making a purchase. We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can send antique Japanese swords by EMS.
We normally ship by EMS(Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. We will send you a tracking number for your order as soon as we hand it to the post office. We will put 100 % insurance on the shipping document without any extra charge. Based on the total amount, there might be a duty tax or other fee for you to pay, depending on the countries. We use package cushioning to protect the item and put it in a PVC pipe, which is one of the most secure packages because of its durability.
It will normally takes 5-14 days for the item to arrive at your given address after we dispatch it. Time of delivery is estimated as accurately as possible by the carrier but does not take into account any delays beyond our control such as by inclement weather, post office holiday seasons.
* If you live in Australia and like to purchase an authentic Japanese sword, please click here to know the detail.
* If you live in the UK and like to purchase an authentic Japanese sword, please contact us first and click here to know the detail.
【Review】
Here is one of the reviews we received from a customer who purchased an authentic Japanese sword from us. For more reviews, please click here.
“My experience overall with the whole process was wonderful. I had many questions about the history and process to purchase these treasures. All my questions were answered very timely and complete. The staff is very knowledgeable and very well versed if any questions do arise.”
【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision. It is essential for us to know that you are happy with your choice of a sword. and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.
【How To Contact Us】
Please contact us through email, Facebook Messenger or Live Chat if you have any questions. You can find each icon on the right side of the website. Please click one of them to reach us. We will reply to you within 1-2 business days.
【The Art of Nihonto (Japanese Sword)】
Samurai’s history is a profound, eloquent legacy of ancient Japanese warriors in which millions of people worldwide are being fascinated. If you like to find out the art of Nihonto, please click here.
【A Guide to Japanese Sword Maintenance】
After acquiring an genuine Japanese sword, it is also important to know how to take good care of it. Here is the special video for you. Mr. Paul Martin, Japanese sword expert, shows you how to give proper maintenance to your sword. By mastering how to clean the Japanese sword, its aesthetic beauty will last forever.
When you purchase a Japanese sword from us, you can get a Free Japanese sword maintenance kit. It comes with four tools(Choji Oil, Uchiko Whetstone Powder, Peg remover, Oil Applicator). By watching the video instruction above , you can enjoy learning how to maintain your Japanese sword while appreciating it. If you have any difficulty assembling the sword or cleaning the blade, you can feel free to contact us.
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