Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Iga no Kami Kinmichi with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
This blade was signed by Iga no Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi (伊賀守藤原金道). The swordsmith name Iga no Kami Kinmichi lasted eleven generations during the Edo period. According to NBTHK’s appraisal, it was forged by the 2nd-gen Kinmichi.
The second-gen Iga no Kami Kinmichi belonged to the prestigious school called Mishina (三品) school. He was especially active in sword-forging during the Kanbun era (1661-1673: Early Edo period) while he created his works before this time.
His birth name was Mishina Kanbei (三品勘兵衛). He was born as the son of the first-gen Iga no Kami Kinmichi. After the father deceased in the 6th year of the Kan-Ei era (1637), the second generation took over his father’s maker’s name. And like his father, he received the high honorable official title “Iga no Kami (伊賀守)” in the 14th year of the Kan-Ei Era (1672) from the imperial court for his highly skilled craftsmanship.
The first-gen Iga no Kami Kinmichi was a famous swordsmith as well. It is said that Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered Kimichi school to forge 1,000 Tachi blades for Sekigahara battles, under the condition that the school would become in charge of the swordsmiths residing in Kyoto back then. The first-gen Kinmichi managed to fulfill Ieyasu’s request, and Ieyasu praised him by granting a special position called *Nippon Kaji Soushou (日本鍛冶宗匠). This position was taken over by the generations of Iga no Kami Kinmichi.
The second generation was allowed to inscribe a chrysanthemum emblem, which is the symbol of the Japanese emperor. His sword forging technique was so great that the emperor permitted him to use this emblem, which was honorable for any swordsmith. A chrysanthemum emblem remains in the tang of this blade.
The second-gen Iga no Kami Kinmichi was also famous for forging Daisho blades for Tokugawa Ietsuna, the 4th Shogun of the Edo government. He died in the 8th year of the Enpo era (1680).
*Nippon Kaji Soushou (日本鍛冶宗匠) was a position that was in charge of granting titles to swordsmiths in Japan on behalf of the emperor’s court. To ask for the emperor’s court title, a swordsmith first needed to become an apprentice at Kinmichi school.
Mishina School
The first-gen Iga no Kami Kinmichi belonged to Mishina school and was the first son of the Mishina school’s founder. Mishina school was established by the first-gen Mutsu no Kami Omichi (陸奥守大道), also known as Kanemichi. It is said that initially, Kanemichi was from Mino province, exclusively forging blades for Shingen Takeda, a famous feudal lord. Later on, he moved to Kyoto, being invited by the emperor.
He also brought his four sons and founded Mishina school in Kyoto. Five sons were Iga no Kami Kinmichi(伊賀守金道)、Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi(和泉守来金道), Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi(丹波守吉道) and Echu no kami Masatoshi(越中守正俊). His sons were known as Kyoto Gokaji(京都五鍛冶), prestigious swordsmiths forging in Kyoto in the early Edo period.
Mishina school was prosperous throughout the Edo period. The superb craftsmanship of the Mishina school was passed down for generations.
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 Mune (backbone) of the blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)：71.0 cm (27.9 inches)
Curvature(Sori)：1.4 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.
The back of the tang has an inscription of Kikumon (菊紋, chrysanthemum emblem). Kinmichi was allowed to inscribe this emblem, which is the symbol of the Japanese emperor. His sword forging technique was so great that the emperor permitted him to use this emblem, which was honorable for any swordsmith.
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 fuchi-kashira depicts a graceful scene: above, a stone-paved bridge stretches across, while below, the water’s surface reflects the blossoms—likely plum flowers—creating a mirror-like image of the tree. This poetic design captures the refined beauty of seasonal scenery in Japanese art.
Tsuka and Menuki：Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
The theme of this Menuki is Kiji (雉, pheasant) . Since ancient times, this bird has often appeared in Waka (和歌, Japanese poetry) poems that think about families, so it is said that pheasants symbolize family love and marital love. The pheasant was designated as the national bird of Japan in 1947. A beautiful bird endemic to Japan, it is familiar in folk tales and nursery rhymes. Its male is considered the symbol of bravery, and the female symbolizes maternal love.
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.
This tsuba features a distinctive design: the rim is decorated with geometric patterns, while the central motif incorporates the technique of gold inlay (金象嵌, kinzōgan), adding refined detail and contrast. Such craftsmanship highlights both artistic expression and the high technical skill of the sword fittings maker
Saya：Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
This saya features a luxurious black lacquer finish, decorated with a spiral pattern resembling a leech wrapped around its surface. This technique is likely a form of Hirumaki-nuri (蛭巻塗).
Also, the kojiri (end fitting of the scabbard) is decorated with an elegant arabesque (唐草, karakusa) pattern. In Japanese art, the karakusa motif—consisting of spiraling vines and leaves—symbolizes longevity, prosperity, and the unbroken continuity of life, as the vines endlessly extend without end. This design has been widely used in traditional crafts, reflecting wishes for good fortune and enduring prosperity.
Authentication Paper：NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1042968)
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 February 9th in the 10th year of Heisei (1998). 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 : Hiroshima 29934
The Board of Education in Hiroshima 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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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.
