on the right corner of the photo.Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Masatada with NTHK Kanteisho Certificate
【Description】
Summary
This blade was signed by Ushu Akita Jyu Masatada (羽州秋田住正忠) during the Genji era (1864-1865: The end of the Edo period). He was also known as Akimoto Yonekichi (秋元米吉) while his birthname was Miura Jyogrou Yoshinaga (三浦定五郎吉長). He was born as the second son of Miura Choheibei. Masatada was active in the late Edo period-early Meiji era (Late 19th century) and was a Samurai of the Dewa Domain (Today’s Akita prefecture). He was an Okakae Kaji for 佐竹北家 (Satake Hokke family), who was a strong feudal family in Dewa domain. Okakaekaji is a swordsmith who exclusively served a specific domain or feudal lord, which is an honorable position for any swordsmiths back in the day. It is said that he once belonged to Suishinshi Masahide school, one of the most famous swordsmiths/school during the late Edo period. According to available records, he forged many swords especially during the Ōu War (奥羽戦争).
The Ōu War was a conflict that took place in 1868 in the northern region of Japan (the Tōhoku area). It was fought between the newly formed Meiji government and domains that had supported the former shogunate. Domains such as Aizu and Shōnai joined forces to oppose the new government, but were eventually defeated. As a result, Japan came under the unified control of the Meiji government. This war marked a major turning point, as Japan shifted from its old political system to a new, modern state.
Japan enjoyed a relatively peaceful time from the early Edo period to the mid-Edo period(the 1600s-1760s) because of the stable economy and the powerful government run by Tokugawa Shogun. Samurai didn’t have many opportunities to utilize his Katana sword in public or on battlefields during this time. Thus, they carried their swords more as a symbol of their social status. The demand for weapons decreased accordingly compared to the previous Warring state period called Sengoku Jidai (1467-1600).
However, toward the end of the Edo period(1764-1876), the Japanese sword’s role changed dramatically. With the poverty spreading in Japan, there were so many riots initiated by the civilians. Japanese sword started to play an essential role in maintaining public safety.
Pressure from foreign countries to open Japanese borders also forced Samurai to order strong-looking swords to survive this tumultuous time. We believe many swordsmiths, including Masada, made great efforts to forged high-quality, practical blades for their masters to prepare for battles.
There was a civil war between Tokugawa’s military government and the new Meiji government at the end of the Edo period. That means the original owner of this Katana might have seen the moment when Samurai’s life changed forever. Also, it is possible that this blade was carried by a Samurai who participated in this civil war based on the reputation of this swordsmith.
*Please keep in mind that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu on this blade. If you would like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
Curvature (Sori)：1.2 cm (0.47 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).
The entire of this sword’s Koshirae is designed with the common theme: Nozarashi-Zu (野晒図). It refers to human bones that have been exposed to winds and rain in the open air and turned into skeletons, and it often refers to skulls in particular. This Nozarashi theme has been favored since a long time ago. We could imagine that people in those days had to live in harsher conditions. In addition, Samurai warriors were always on the verge of life and death on the battlefields. We would say this theme reflects on these aspects of society at that time.
It is not just the famous warlords who left their names in history who ran through the world of warfare. Each warrior whose name was not even recorded has their own history. However, after they lost their lives, they were simply left on battlefields and returned to nature. We would say that the Nozarashi-Zu is a subject that makes us feel the transience of nameless and precious lives scattered on battlefields and the transient after wars.
If we write it like this, you might feel melancholy. However, same as other designs, we hope each viewer will enjoy their own interpretation. By incorporating this motif into the sword mountings, Samurai warriors might have roused themselves toward the battlefield or included the desire to spend time with the souls of their former comrades in arms who had already lost their lives.
At first glance, you might feel that the Nozarashi-Zu has a frightening atmosphere, but the fact is that it was incorporated as part of the decoration. And it was treated as one of the elements that boosted the aspect of Japanese swords as a work of art. We interpret that it makes us feel a sense of the high sensitivity of the people of the time. In addition, the finish of each sword mounting is excellent, and the skillful technique of the artisans could be seen everywhere. We hope you appreciate the details of the Koshirae as well as the blade.
*While this blade was made during the end of the Edo period, we assume its overall Koshirae was made later than this time period.
Fuchi-Kashira：A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
The theme of this Fuchi-Kashira is Nozarashi (野ざらし).
Tsuka and Menuki：Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
The theme of this Tsuba is the same as other parts: Nozarashi.
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 theme of this Tsuba is the same as other parts: Nozarashi. The sight of scattered bones lying alone in the wilderness, exposed to the wind, is a sad and lonely image. Yet, it also carries a powerful message: life is short, and because of that, it is beautiful and worth living to the fullest.
Saya： Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
This scabbard is coated with black lacquer, and like the other parts, carries the theme of Nozarashi.
Authentication Paper：NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade (No. 10255)
NTHK, also known as NPO Nihon Touken Hozon Kai, is the oldest organization for sword authentication of Japanese swords in modern times. It was established in 1910 during the post-Samurai era. They authenticated the blade on October 13th in the 1st year of Reiwa (2019). 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: Akita 31787
The Board of Education in Akita prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword. It is called Jyu Hou Touken Rui Torokusho (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.
【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 700 Japanese swords for the past few years (～2024) 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, France, Hong Kong and 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.
【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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Thank you for reading all the information on the page. If you have any difficulty choosing the right Japanese sword for you, we will be more than happy to help you find the one that speaks to you the most. Please feel free to contact us.
