Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Sadayuki with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
Fujiwara Sadayuki(藤原貞行) forged this sword during Jōō era(early Edo 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. Those who forged sword in Takada village before the Edo period are called Taira Takada and Fujiwara Takada during the Edo period.
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 Tokubetsu Hozon certificate issued by NBTHK. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, especially worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword). This sword comes with a beautiful Tachi style scabbard and intricate sword fitting.
【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa):68.9 cm (27.1 inches)
Curvature(Sori):1.5 cm(0.59 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 Fujiwara Sadayuki (藤原貞行).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.
Fuchi-Kashira:A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
The Fuchi Kashira is decorated with a climbing plant pattern. Karakusa-Mon (arabesque pattern) is one of the traditional designs, the combination of climbing plants. As ivy has vitality and thrives strongly, this plant pattern represents prosperity and longevity.
Tsuka and Menuki:Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
Tsuka is coiled with the Hishi-Maki technique, which is a general way to cover the Tsuka. If you would like to have the Tsuka Maki rewrapped, we can arrange it with an extra cost.
Dragons are engraved for Menuki. Initially, dragon is an imaginary creature that comes from ancient Chinese traditions or myths. This beast is a symbol of auspicious signs. Its body is likened nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, the belly is Mizuchi (a 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. People treat the dragon pattern as the all-purpose auspicious pattern.
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.
Mokkou-shaped Tsuba made of iron. Cherry blossom petal-shaped dents are designed on both sides. Cherry blossom is one of the seasonal things of spring, and it has been loved for a long time. This flower pattern is designed not only for sword mountings but also for Kimono (traditional Japanese costume) or furnishings. It is believed the gods of grain exist in cherry blossom; therefore, this flower pattern has been treated as the symbol of a plentiful harvest. In ancient times, people held traditional events under cherry blossom trees to pray for a bumper year. According to a theory, it is the origin of the cherry-blossom viewing picnic today.
Saya: Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
Please keep in mind that there is one metal part missing on the bottom part of the scabbard. It comes with Shirasaya(wooden case) and you can find some aging on it.
Authentication Paper:NBTHK TOKUBETSU 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 June 25th in the second year of Reiwa(2020). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society. The purchaser will receive this original certificate as well.
Registration Number : Osaka 606
The Board of Education in Osaka 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.
—————————————————————–
【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.