Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Sadamori with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
This blade is attributed to Reizen Sadamori, who was active during 1345-1362 (the Nanbokucho period). He belonged to Kongo Hyoue (金剛兵衛), which was a prestigious school founded by Kongo Hyoue Morikuni during the late Kamakura period (around 1278) in Chikuzen province (Today’s Fukuoka prefecture). It is believed that he used Reizen (冷泉) as his title because he lived in Hakata city (博多), which is also known as Reizentsu (冷泉津). It is said that many swordsmiths established their forgeing sites there to serve the Samurais who protected Japan, since Hakata was a major city close to Dazaifu (大宰府), the largest trading hub with the continent in Japan at that time.
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 Sadamori. 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.
When Sadamoari was active, Japan was tumultuous because the imperial court was split into two sides (south and north). There were many conflicts, and many Samurai were deployed. And Kongo Hyoue school must have dedicated themselves to forging high-quality blades for those Samurai who fought in battles.
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 few Kitae Kizu on the blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa): 68.0 cm (26.7 inches)
Curvature (Sori): 1.3 cm (0.51 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.
The motif of this Fuchi-Kashira is a maple (紅葉, momiji). According to a theory, this plant motif represents longevity. Maple leaves change their colors from green to yellow, orange, or red. The fall foliage is one of the charms of autumn. Due to this behavior of the color, this design represents someone who knows how to get along in the world and be happy. The pattern that depicts maple leaves run into the water is called Ryusui Momiji Mon (流水紅葉文).
Tsuka and Menuki: Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
The motif of this Menuki is a lion (獅子). Although lions did not exist in Japan at that time, their design was brought from Iran through Tang dynasty China (618-907) as a mythical creature. In Iran, lions were symbols of the sun and power, while in Japan, they came to represent wisdom. This shift is thought to be due to the design’s introduction alongside Buddhism, as one of the Buddhist deities, Monju Bosatsu (文殊菩薩), is depicted riding a lion.
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, featuring a combination of autumn leaves and flowing water, is called “Tatsutagawa Zu (竜田川図).” It is modeled after the Tatsutagawa River (竜田川) in Nara Prefecture, which has long been famous in Japan for its beautiful autumn maples, inspiring numerous poems and songs. The most famous poem themed on the Tatsutagawa River is by Ariwara no Narihira (在原業平, 825–880), which goes: “千早ぶる神代もきかず竜田川からくれないに水くぐるとは(Such beauty unheard of even in the age of the raging gods–the Tatsutagawa River tie dyeing its waters in autumnal colors.)”
This Tsuba is appraised as a Tokubetsu Kichou Kodogu (特別貴重小道具) 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 an authentic Japanese sword mounting, well preserved and high quality with artistic value.
Saya: Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
On the head of this Saya, autumn leaves are depicted, which seems to have been painted gold initially.
Authentication Paper: NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1005665) & NBTHK TOKUBETSU Kichou Certificate for the Tsuba (No. 150)
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 July 21st in the 28th year of Heisei (2016). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society. Also, they authenticated the Tsuba on January 29th in the 46th year of Showa (1971). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Kichou Kodougu, an old form of the certificate. The purchaser will receive these original certificates as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a PDF file for your record if you request.
Registration Number: Gifu 73026
The Board of Education in Gifu 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.
【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, UK, 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.
