Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Kagemori with NBTHK Hozon Certificate
【Description】
Taira Kagemori (平景盛) forged this sword during TENBUN era(late Muromachi period). He belonged to Takada school, which had been founded by Takada Tomoyuki in Takada village, Ohita prefecture during the Nanbokucho period. (1334-1338 A.D). Tomoyuki went to Bizen province(today’s Okayama prefecture) to master sword-forging techniques of BIZEN and came back to the village and trained his apprentices. That is how Takada school started.
During Sengoku Period(the warring state period: from late 15 C to late 16 C), Takada school forged many swords for feudal lords in Kyushu island. The reputation of the swords forged by Takada school was close to MINO or BIZEN swords, two of which are the most famous sword forging places.
Generally speaking, Kyushu island was prosperous in sword making because of the long history of trading with Asian countries. To gain an advantage in trading, many feudal lords in this island fought against each other. Takada school was able to receive many orders as the demand increased among those lords.
The material of Japanese swords(high-quality iron sand and charcoal) was abundant in the mount Sobo Katamuki, located near Takada village.We believe Takada school prospered because of its geographic location and natural resources.
This sword has a Hozon certificate issued by NBTHK. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword).This sword comes with beautiful black Koshirae(scabbard&sword fitting).
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa): 69.8 cm(27.5 inches)
Curvature(Sori): 2.5 cm(0.98 inches)
Hamon:The blade pattern created by the tempering process
Jimon:Visible surface pattern on the steel
Nakago:Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword.
It has the signature of Taira Kagemori(平景盛).The blade was shortened at least once based on how many nakago holes it has. 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.
Horimono: Horimono is an inscription or sculpture on Japanese swords.
It has Sanskrit letters inscribed on both sides. The meaning is Fudo Myo-o(不動明王), which is a protective god in Buddhism, particularly Japanese Shingon Buddhism. This god was also known as a god of wars. Samurai believed in the power of this god so they put decorations of this god on either armor or samurai sword.
【Other Details】
Fuchi-Kashira:A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
Running horses are designed on this Fuchi-Kashira. In Japan, horses have been considered the gods’ vehicle since ancient times; therefore, this animal was presented to shrines at the Shinto rituals. According to a theory, horses were brought to Japan around the 4th century to the 5th century. And the technique of horse-riding was transmitted at the same time. Eventually, in the Muromachi and Kamakura periods, horse-riding was incorporated into one of the Samurai traditions; horses have become valuable as military supplies. Cavalry fighting has been adopted into the battles, and horses fulfilled a vital role for Samurai.
Tsuka and Menuki:Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
Horses are designed for this Menuki as well as Fuchi-Kashira. People appreciate this motif for a long time so that this animal pattern is found in various items such as potteries or furnishings. Among the horse patterns, there is a design which is called “Hidari-Uma (左馬).” The letter “馬” means horse, and describes the figure of a horse running to the left. And Hidari-Uma pattern refers to a picture of a horse running to the right. It shows the turning over the “horse (Uma).” There is the word “Mau (舞う, dancing)” in Japanese; people thought happiness would come down in association with “turning the horse” and “dancing.” Also, the horse pattern has been loved as an amulet to pray for prosperity in business.
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.
Circle-shaped Tsuba made from iron. An older man sitting under the pine tree is engraved. And the landscape is designed on the backside. Pine needles, bamboo leaves, and clouds are inlaid with gold color. This Tsuba might describe a scene of a story.
Saya:Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
The cloud pattern is designed for this Saya. It is believed dragons and gods live in the clouds: therefore, clouds associated with extraordinary power, and people considered the clouds as precursors to good things happening. As it appears repeatedly, the cloud design also has been regarded as the symbol of reincarnation.
Authentication Paper:NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the blade
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 Feb 2nd in the 29th year of Heisei(2017). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society. The purchaser will receive this original certificate as well.
Registration Number : Nagano 40747
The Board of Education in Nagano prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword . In order to obtain this paper, the sword needs to be traditionally hand forged. With this paper, its owner can legally own an authentic Japanese sword in Japan.
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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 300 Japanese swords 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. 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, EUR or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
【Shipping】
We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, UK, Germany , France and Hong Kong. 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 either EMS or FedEx(USA, Australia, Canada).
We normally ship by EMS(Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. When we receive an order from the USA, Australia or Canada we will use FedEx instead as EMS temporarily stops shipping from Japan to those countries due to COVID-19.
We will send you a tracking number for your order as soon as we hand it to the post office/FedEx. 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.
*Please keep in mind that due to the spread of COVID-19, there might be delays in shipping. If you like to know the detail about shipping, please feel free to ask us.
【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.
【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. When you purchase a Japanese sword from us, you can get a Free sword maintenance kit, which appears in this video.