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Updated: 4 Dec 2024

SOLD

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Kunimasa
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate

$5,350.20

DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.

SHIPPING TO :
USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.

INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate , Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mountings), Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Bags, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support

Category Katana (SHINTO)
Age Early-Mid Edo period (1684-1688)
Swordsmith Hoshu Takeda Ju Fujiwara Kunimasa (豊州竹田住藤原国正)
Certificate NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate
Location Bungo province (Today’s Oita prefecture)
Blade Size Cutting Edge Length: 69.6 cm (27.4 inches)
Curvature: 1.0 cm (0.39 inches)

Thank you for visiting our website. This sword was sold as each antique Japanese sword is one of a kind. However, we might be able to show you something similar because we have various types of swords available. Also, there are ones that aren’t listed on the website yet. Our customer service will help you find your ideal blade you will cherish for generations. Please feel free to contact us or check the list of swords. We will be more than happy to help you.

 

SOLD

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Kunimasa with NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate

【Description】

Summary

 This blade was signed by Hoshu Takeda Ju Fujiwara Kunimasa (豊州竹田住藤原国正), who was thought to be active in the early-mid Edo period (1684-1688). Hoshu is another name for Bungo province (today’s Oita prefecture) and Takeda is the village where he lived. Hoshu Takeda Jyu means that he lived in this area when he forged this blade. It was common for many swordsmiths in the ancient time to inscribe where he created his works before his maker’s name. Bungo province is famous for having a lot of excellent swordsmiths. His birthname was Hachiheibei (八兵衛). It is said that he originally belonged to the school run by Edo Hojoji Kunimasa (江戸法城城国正). Edo Hojoji is the name of the school, being prosperous in the Edo city during the Edo period.

 Kunimasa was said to be active as an Okakaekou (お抱え工, swordsmith who worked for a domain) for the Nakagawa (中川) family. Accoring to one theory, he moved to Bungo province from Edo city because his craftmanship was highly acknowledged by Nakagawa family and they requested him to move there. It is said that Nakagawa Kiyohide (中川清秀), who served Oda Nobunaga (織田信長) and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) and the load of the Miki castle in Harima province (today’s Hyogo prefecture) moved to Bungo province and found the Takeda Domain. Being an Okakaeou was honorable for any swordsmiths during the Edo period because this fact indicates that his craftsmanship was highly regarded and acknowledged among the clan or domain.

 

Edo Hojoji school

 Hojoji school was founded by Hojyoji Kunimitsu, a renowned swordsmith in Tajima no Kuni (Today’s Hyogo prefecture) during the late Nanbokucho-Muromachi period. It is said that Kunimitsu was one of three apprentices of Sadamune, who was one of the most prominent makers in Soshu province (Today’s Kanagawa prefecture).

 Hojyoji Masahiro (法城寺正弘), an offspring of Kunimitsu, is the one who moved to Edo city and established the Edo Hojoji school during the early Edo period. He brought his apprentices, including Kunimasa, the master of the Kunimasa who forged this blade from Tajima no Kuni, based on available records. The school was prosperous during the Edo period and forged many blades for the Edo government. The founder, Masahiro, once resided in Mito domain (today’s Ibaraki prefecture) to forge swords for Tokugawa Mitsukuni.

 

 

【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)69.6 cm (27.4 inches)
Curvature(Sori)1.0 cm (0.39 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



KissakiKissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword.

 

NakagoNakago 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.

KoshiraeKoshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya (Scabbard), Tsuka (Handle), Tsuba (Handguard).

Fuchi-KashiraA pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.

 The motif of this Fuchi Kashira is the dragon (龍, Ryu).

 Initially, the dragon is an imaginary creature found in ancient Chinese 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, belly is Mizuchi (蛟, mythical animal in Japan which looks like a snake and have 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.

 In ancient China, the dragon pattern was used for emperors’ clothing so that people strictly defined its shape or even the number of nails. On the other hand, the dragon pattern does not have detailed rules to represent classes in Japan. However, still, it maintains its meaning as the all-purpose auspicious pattern.

 Also, in Japan, there is a belief that worships dragon as a water god and is called Ryujin Shinkou (竜神信仰). Since rice cultivation flourished in this country, water is always an essential resource. Therefore, the dragon motif has been familiar to Japanese people since a long time ago. 


Tsuka and MenukiTsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.

 We assume the Suiryu (水龍, water dragon) is depicted on this Menuki. 

 You will find something similar to fish scales on this body of the dragon. The water dragon is not only the symbol of the power of water, but also said to symbolize strength, resilience, and creativity. 

   
Tsuba and HabakiTsuba 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. 

 We believe the theme of this Tsuba is Shoki (鍾馗). The design is beautifully engraved with openwork.

 Shoki is a deity which originates from Chinese mythology, also known as Zhong Kui. Shoki is regarded as an auspicious figure, and it is believed to ward off evil spirits. Therefore, it often appears on flags, folding screens, hanging scrolls, and even on sword mountings.

 

Saya Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.  

Authentication PaperNBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate for the blade (No. 346605)

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 9th in the 52nd year of Showa (1977). They appraised it as a Tokubetsu Kiho Touken, an old form of the certificate. The purchaser will receive the 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 : Okayama 90016

 The Board of Education in Okayama prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword . It is called Jyu Token Rui Torokusho(銃刀剣類登録証). 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 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 , Belgium, France, Finland, 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.

 

MORE ANTIQUE JAPANESE SWORD FOR SALE

SWORDS WITHOUT CERTIFICATES FOR SALE

READ KATANA ARCHIVE ARTICLE(Episode1-8)

LEARN JAPANESE SWORD TERMINOLOGY

 

 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.

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