Antique Japanese Sword Katana Katana Signed by the second-gen Shigekuni with NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade and Koshirae
【Description】
Summary
This blade was signed by Kishu Jyu Monju Nanki Shigekuni (紀州住文殊重国) during the Meireki era (1655-1658: Early Edo Period). The maker’s name, Shigekuni, lasted 11 generations. Their active period was from the early Edo period(1615-) to the late Edo period(-1868). NTHK appraised it as a work of the second-gen Shigekuni, who was especially active from 1655 to 1661. The first-gen Shigekuni, one of the most famous swordsmiths, was active from 1600-1624. The generations of Shigekuni forged blades in Kishu province (Today’s Wakyama prefecture ). The second-gen Shigekuni is also known as Monju Shigekuni, distinguishing him from the first-gen Shigekuni. This is because the second-gen often inscribed Monju as a part of his signature, while the first-gen Shigekuni never did in his career. We will explain the meaning of Monju in the next paragraph. His birthname was Monju Kinsuke, and he later changed to Shirouemon. He exclusively forged blades for Samurai who resided in Kishu province. He was famous for forging blades for Tokugawa Yorinobu.
The first-gen Shigekuni
The first-gen Shigekuni was originally from Yamato province (today’s Nara prefecture) and belonged to Monju school, whose headquarters was Tegai school, one of the most prestigious schools in the region. His birthname was Kurosaburo. During the Keicho era (1596-1614), he forged blades for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun supreme military leader of the Edo government in Suruga province (today’s Shizuoka prefecture), along with other famous sword makers, such as Yasutsugu. After Iyasu Tokugawa passed away, in the second year of the Genna era (1616), Shigekuni was relocated to Kishu province (Wakayama prefecture) to serve Tokugawa Yorinobu, the 10th son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yorinobu built a strong foundation in this area and established Kishu Tokugawa clan,a direct lineage from the Tokugawa clan, who ruled the Edo government. Kishu Tokugawa clan is known as GOSANKE, which is eligible to take over Shogun’s position. The second Shigekuni moved to Kishu province with his father. And, we assume the reason why the second-gen inscribed Monju in his maker’s name is to be proud of his lineage. Since the early Edo period, the generations of Shigekuni served the Tokugawa clan in Kishu province.
The first-gen Shiekuni is also known for forging very sharp swords, which made him and his work classified as Ryo Wazamono Toko( 良業物刀工). Wazamono is a classification of Japanese swords and swordsmiths used in Japan to identify historic blades of exceptional quality in the book written by Kaiho Kenjaku ( 懐宝剣尺 ) in 1797. He is categorized as a top-tier sword maker in terms of fame and craftsmanship. He created swords with either the Yamato or Soshu tradition.
Tachi Koshirae
This blade is stored in Tachi(太刀) Koshirae. Tachi was mainly used by an armored Samurai with one hand on horseback from the Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) until the early Muromachi period. TACHI was suspended loosely on the left waist with its edge facing the ground so that you could draw it faster to cut down soldiers on the ground. Because of its gorgeous looking, having a Tachi-style sword mounting became a social status among Samurai. This Koshirae was appraised by NTHK and it estimates that the Koshirae was made in the early Showa era (Early 20th century). The main metal part is made of silver. And, the theme of the Saya is Choju Giga Zu (鳥獣戯画図), which is one of the most iconic picture scrolls created during the 12-13th century.
*Please keep in mind that there are a couple of tinny Kitae Kizu on the blade. If you like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa): 76.0 cm (29.9 inches)
Curvature(Sori):2.2 cm (0.86 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 theme of the decoration on the Tsuka and Kojiri is chrysanthemum (菊, Kiku).
A long time ago, the chrysanthemum was used as a medicine for obtaining a long life in China, and it was brought to Japan with this thought in the Nara period (648-781). Chrysanthemum is one of the flowers which symbolizes fall, and people appreciate it very much since ancient times. As its petals form radially, the chrysanthemum has been likened to the sun. That is why this flower pattern is treated as the symbol of perpetual youth and longevity or good health. “Kiku no Gomon (菊の御紋)” is a kind of chrysanthemum pattern, and it has been used as the crest of the Emperor and the royal family in Japan so that it is well-known as a noble pattern.
From the Kamakura (1185-1333) period to the Warring States period (1467-1615), the chrysanthemum crest was given as a reward from the Emperor back then to the warlords who made significant contributions. For example, Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358), who became the first Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, cooperated with Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇, 1288-1339) to dissolve the Kamakura Shogunate. And Takauji was given a chrysanthemum crest.
In addition, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) was also given a chrysanthemum crest by Emperor Goyouzei. A theory says Hideyoshi was delighted and used this motif for furniture. At that time, the Emperor was regarded as God. Therefore, it was an irreplaceable honor for Samurais to receive the family crest from the Emperor. This is how the chrysanthemum pattern has a deep connection with Samurai culture.
Fuchi-Kashira:A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
Tsuka and Menuki:Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
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.
Saya: Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
The theme of the Saya is Choju Giga (鳥獣戯画). It also known as Choju Jinbutu Giga (鳥獣人物戯画). It is one of the most famous picture scroll, which is said to have been created during the end of the Heian-Kamakura era (12-13th century). It is consisted of four volumes and it is known for depicting anthropomorphized rabbits, frogs and monkeys in a comical way. It is said that Choju Giga is the oldest Manga (Japanese cartoon). The original picture scroll is designated as national treasure now. You can see many funny interaction between rabbits and frog on this Saya. One of the scenes depicts a frog and a rabbit were doing Sumo wrestling, which is one of the most iconic drawings of Choju Giga (鳥獣戯画).
Authentication Paper:NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade and Koshirae
NTHK, also known as NPO Nihon Touken Hozon Kai, is the oldest organization for sword authentication of Japanese swords in modern times. It was established in 1910 during the post-Samurai era. They authenticated the blade and Koshirae on April 21th in the 6th year of Reiwa (2024). 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 : Aichi 26306
The Board of Education in Aichi 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.
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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.