Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Kinmichi with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
This blade was forged by Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi (和泉守来金道) during the Keian-Enpo Era of the Early Edo Period (1648-1681).
The swordsmith name Kinmichi continued through five generations during the early to mid-Edo period. According to the appraisal by the NBTHK, based on the style and signature, this work is attributed to either the second or third gen Kinmichi. The reverse side of the tang bears the inscription “Daihōshi Hokkyo Kyūjūni Tsukuru Kore” (大法師法橋九十二造之).
Daihōshi Hokkyo was an honorary religious title used by the Rai Kinmichi lineage, particularly seen on collaborative works by the second gen Eisen (栄泉) and the third gen Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi. Swords bearing this title are often referred to as Ōkurikara Rai Kinmichi (大倶利伽羅来金道) and are regarded as especially prestigious signed works of the school. Notably, the phrase Kyūjūni Tsukuru Kore (九十二造之) indicates that the sword was forged at the remarkable age of 92, an extraordinary testament to the longevity and skill of the smith.
The title “Izumi no Kami” was a hereditary honorary court rank bestowed upon successive generations of the Kinmichi line. The title Kami was granted by the Imperial Court in recognition of exceptional craftsmanship. Both the second and third gen of Kinmichi were granted the rare privilege of engraving the chrysanthemum crest (菊紋, Kikumon)—the sacred symbol of the Japanese Emperor—on their blades. This blade proudly bears that chrysanthemum emblem, signifying imperial favor and supreme skill.
The first-gen Kinmichi was known as Izumi no Kami Kinmichi (和泉守金道) or Fujiwara Rai Kinmichi (藤原来金道). He was the second son of Seki Kanemichi (関兼道), a master swordsmith originally from Mino Province. Seki Kanemichi was known for forging swords exclusively for Takeda Shingen, one of the most powerful warlords of the Sengoku period. In 1593, he relocated to Kyoto with his four sons: Iga no Kami Kinmichi, Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi, Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi, and Etchū no Kami Masatoshi. There, he established the Mishina school, which became one of the most prestigious sword-making lineages of the early Edo period.
The first-gen Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi was celebrated as one of the Kyōto Gokaji (京都五鍛冶)—the five elite swordsmiths of Kyoto in the early Edo period. He was granted permission to engrave the chrysanthemum crest on his blades, an honor bestowed only upon swordsmiths of extraordinary ability and imperial trust.
He adopted the name “Rai” (来) to signify his revival of the classical Rai tradition, one of the oldest sword schools founded in Kyoto and flourishing during the Kamakura period.
The second and third gen of Kinmichi continued forging in Kyoto during the mid-to-late 17th century and were likewise permitted to use the chrysanthemum crest. The third-gen Kinmichi frequently worked in collaboration with the second gen, and only a limited number of such joint works survive today.
He was also the elder brother of Ōmi no Kami Hisamichi, another highly regarded swordsmith of the early Edo period. In 1672, the third-gen Kinmichi was awarded the title Daihōshi Hokkyo (大法師法橋), one of the highest religious ranks bestowed upon Buddhist artisans of the era.
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 noticeable black rust spots on the blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)：75.2 cm (27.2 inches)
Curvature(Sori)：1.0 cm (0.78 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 primary motif of this Koshirae is the Ryū (龍, dragon). Throughout the fittings, the classic Unryū-zu (雲龍図, dragon emerging from clouds) design is prominently featured.
The dragon is an imaginary creature originating in ancient Chinese mythology and has long been revered as a symbol of auspicious power. Its form is traditionally described as a composite of nine animals: antlers of a deer, a camel’s head, demon-like eyes, a snake’s neck, the belly of a mizuchi (蛟, a mythical Japanese water creature resembling a horned serpent), fish scales, falcon-like claws, tiger-like paws, and the ears of an ox. Because of this extraordinary and otherworldly appearance, the dragon was believed to reign supreme over all animals.
In ancient China, the dragon motif was strictly reserved for the emperor, and even details such as its form and the number of claws were carefully regulated according to rank. In contrast, Japanese representations of dragons were not governed by rigid class-based rules. Nevertheless, the motif retained its significance as a universally auspicious symbol, associated with power, protection, and good fortune.
In Japan, dragons have also been venerated as water deities under the belief known as Ryūjin Shinkō (竜神信仰, dragon-god worship). As rice cultivation has long been central to Japanese society, water has always been an essential and sacred resource. For this reason, the dragon motif—symbolizing rain, water, and life-giving force—has been deeply familiar to the Japanese people since ancient times.
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 Cloud (雲).
The cloud pattern has been associated with magical power, and people thought it an omen of lucky things. In addition, some people wished to obtain a leisurely life in comfort by seeing clouds’ movements (that floats in the sky). Or, as clouds appear repeatedly, its design represents reincarnation. Samurais were always on the verge of life and death on the battlefield. They might have believed in the power of this pattern. And they had incorporated it into the design of their sword mountings, such as Tsuba.
Tsuka and Menuki：Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
The theme of this Menuki is dragon (龍).
*Please keep in mind that there are some damages on the Tsuka Ito (thread on the handle) due to its aging.
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’s design is the Unryu Zu (雲龍図). It is a combination of dragons and clouds. Initially, dragons were imaginary creatures found in ancient foreign traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, the belly is the Mizuchi (蛟, a mythical animal in Japan that looks like a snake and has a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers and ears are cows.
It was thought that the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance. About the cloud pattern, clouds bring blessed rain and snow, and their movements significantly affect the day’s weather. Due to its supernatural power, a theory says that gods, spirits, and dragons dwell in the clouds. In Japan, there is a belief that worships dragons as water gods. Since rice cultivation has flourished in this country, people always treat water as an essential resource. We imagine some people wished for a plentiful harvest in the Unryu theme. From such a religious aspect, we could infer that dragon designs were familiar to people.
Saya：Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
This Saya is covered with black lacquer. Due to its high waterproof effect, lacquer has been used since ancient times in Asia. The blade of a Japanese sword is made of iron, and moisture is the greatest enemy of iron. For the purpose of carrying the blade without degrading it, people devised a method of coating the scabbard with lacquer. To prevent not only moisture but also rain and snow from penetrating the inside of the scabbard, it was necessary to apply multiple layers of lacquer. The Nushi (塗師, lacquerers) was born precisely because advanced techniques were required to handle the complicated processes.
Authentication Paper：NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1019658)
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 March 10th in the 5th year of Reiwa (2023). 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 : Yamanashi 22825
The Board of Education in Yamanashi 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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