Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Tomoshige with NBTHK Tokubestsu Hozon Certificate
*This blade is categorized as a Wakizashi on the NBTHK certificate because its cutting edge is slightly shorter than the minimum length to call a Katana. When the Katana is less than 2 Shaku (1 Shaku=30.3 cm), it is categorized as a Wakizashi in Japanese sword terminology in modern times. However, we believe this was used as a Katana, and it was primarily made for one-hand combat. The user could hold this sword with one hand, a popular way to fight during the late Muromachi period. Its registration paper classified it as a Katana in case you are wondering.
【Description】
This blade was signed by Fujishima Tomoshige (藤嶋友重), whose maker’s name lasted several generations from the early Nanboku period to the end of the Edo period (Early 14th-Late 19th century).
According to NBTHK, which appraised this blade, it was made by a late gen Tomoshige, who was considered to be active in the late Muromachi period (the late 15th century). Though it is not clear when this blade was exactly forged, the time when the late gen Tomoshige was active, the late Muromachi period, is also called the Sengoku Jidai and there were many rivalries and wars between regional feudal lords to expand their land or gain political control.
The generations of Tomoshige forged blades in Kaga domain (Today’s Ishikawa prefecture). It is said that the first-gen Tomoshige was an apprentice of Rai Kunitoshi (来国俊), one of the most famous swordsmiths in Yamashiro province (Today’s Kyoto) during the late Kamakura-early Nanbokucho period (Late 13th-early 14th century). And the first-gen Tomoshige settled in Kaga domain and founded the school.
In the late Muromachi period, Maeda clan started to control Kaga domain. Maeda clan was originally a retainer of the Oda family, who ruled Owari province (today’s Nagoya area in Aichi prefecture). The Maeda clan was one of the most influential families in Samurai history. The first head of the Maeda clan was Toshiie Maeda. He climbed the social ladder of Samurai society and became the feudal lord of Kaga Province (today’s Ishikawa prefecture). He had a vast rice fief that fed 100 million grown-up adults, which is called Hyakuman Goku. Toshie Maeda had a close tie with Oda Nobunaga and Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Since Tomoshige lived in this domain, he likely served the Maeda clan.
This blade 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 Kitae Kizu on the blade, mainly located on the Shinogiji area. If you would like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)：60.1 cm (23.6 inches)
Curvature(Sori)：2.0 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).
Fuchi-Kashira：A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
This fuchi-kashira features a decorative motif of paulownia flowers (桐, kiri) along with the mythical Hōō (鳳凰), the East Asian phoenix.
The phoenix and the paulownia tree have long shared a deep symbolic connection in East Asian culture. The Hōō is a mythical bird originating in ancient Chinese legends, and in Japan, it has been adopted as a symbol of good fortune and imperial authority. It is said to appear only in times of peace and virtuous rule, signifying the arrival of ideal governance and prosperity.The paulownia tree, on the other hand, grows tall and straight with remarkable speed, and has traditionally been regarded as a symbol of nobility and purity. Historically, its motif has been used in official seals and furnishings of the imperial family and high-ranking officials.
The pairing of these two motifs stems from an ancient belief that “the phoenix rests only on the paulownia tree.” According to this tradition, the phoenix will not perch on any ordinary tree, but chooses the pure and noble paulownia as its resting place. This belief elevated the paulownia to the status of a sacred tree worthy of the phoenix.
Because of this tradition, the combination of the phoenix and paulownia motifs has come to symbolize ideal rule, noble spirit, and divine protection. For centuries, this design has been featured in imperial iconography, religious architecture, and the ornamental motifs of the samurai class.
Tsuka and Menuki：Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
You would find that a dog-like animal motif is attached on this Menuki. Based on its appearance, we believe this model is the Karajishi (唐獅子). The Shishi (獅子) means a lion in Japanese. This animal is a lion brought from the continent to Japan in the Toh period (唐, Tang dynasty, 618-907). The Karajishi typically has curly hair for its head, neck, body, and tail. In Buddhism, the Karajishi is regarded as a symbol of wisdom, and Monju Bosatu (文殊菩薩, Manjushri Bodhisattva) rides lions. According to a theory, the Karajishi is the origin of Komainu (狛犬, stone guardian dogs that exorcize evil spirits). It shows this beast motif has been familiar to Japanese people since ancient times. This Kouro is a masterpiece with an oriental atmosphere that incorporates motifs originated from the continent.
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.
This scabbard 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. 1016403)
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 August 27th in the 3rd year of Reiwa (2021). 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 : Aomori 2130
The Board of Education in Aomori 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.
