Antique Japanese Sword Katana Unsigned Morinaga with NTHK Kanteisho Certificate
【Description】
The sword maker, Moritaka forged swords in Chikuzen province(Today’s Fukuoka prefecture) during the late Kamakura period-late Muromachi Period(Early 14th century to mid 16th century). The name had been passed down for a few generations among quite a few swordsmiths. They belonged to Kongo Hyoue (金剛兵衛), a prestigious sword-forging school founded by Kongo Hyoue Morikuni.
The son of Morikuni was the first-gen Moritaka, the most famous Moritaka who was active during the Shohei era. (1346-1370)
This blade was forged during the Eiwa era(1375-1379), according to NTHK’s authentication paper. Based on this information, we believe the second-gen Moritaka forged this blade. The swords forged by Moritaka were famous among high-ranked feudal lords, and some of his work was kept as family treasures among feudal families.
Kongo Hyoue has a strong relationship with Buddhism, as well. Moritaka exclusively forged swords for Reizan Houman Zan, a politically and militarily strong Buddist organization at one point.
When this blade was forged, Japan has a tumultuous time called the Nanbokucho period when the imperial court was split into two sides(south and north). There were so many conflicts, and the trend in battlefields was to use a surprisingly long sword. This blade doesn’t look long now, but we assume it used to be quite a long sword based on the tang’s shape.
There is also an inscription of Sanscrit whose meaning is Fudo Myo-o. It is one of the objects of worship in Buddhism. According to a theory, it is the incarnation of Dainichi Nyorai (大日如来, Mahāvairocana, the principal image of esoteric Buddhism).
We believe this sculpture was also made at the same time the blade was forged. We presume one of the warrior monks might have owned this blade and the inscription reflects on their Buddhism belief. This blade exemplifies beautiful Jigane from the Koto period. The straight tempering(Suguha) line is quite traditional for Koto swords.
Surprisingly, 27th generation Moritaka runs a company that makes traditional Japanese cooking knives in Fukuoka now, inheriting the spirits of the ancestor’s craftsmanship.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa): 63.5 cm( 25.0 inches)
Curvature(Sori): 1.8 cm( 0.70 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
Nakago:Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword.
Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang on purpose to prevent red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, which is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged.
According to NTHK, the signature was cut due to Osuriage(大磨り上げ), shortening the size of the blade dramatically . Based on Nakago, this blade was shortened at least twice in the past.
Horimono:Fudo Myo O
Koshirae: Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya(Sabbard), Tsuka( Handle), Tsuba(Handguard).
Fuchi-Kashira:A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
The Karakusa (唐草, arabesque) pattern is designed for this Fuchi Kashira. Karakusa means climbing plants in Japanese. Ivy has vitality, and it thrives strongly; therefore, this plant pattern represents prosperity and longevity.
Tsuka and Menuki:Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
This Menuki has a floral design; it seems sunflowers or chrysanthemums are its motifs. The sunflower always faces the sun. This habit might have been captured and in a positive meaning and treated as a motif for this Menuki. If the motif of these flowers is chrysanthemums, there is another theory. As chrysanthemums’ petals form radially, this flower has been likened to the sun. People treated this plant as a symbol of perpetual youth and longevity or good health.
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.
Circle-shaped Tsuba made from iron. This Tsuba has a beautifully symmetrical design consisting of straight lines and carves.
Saya:Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
Authentication Paper:NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade
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 1889 during the post-Samurai era. They authenticated the blade on Dec 15th in the first year of Reiwa (2019).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 9654
The Board of Education in Aichi 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.
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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 350 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. 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, UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong and 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 either EMS or FedEx(Canada).
We normally ship by EMS(Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. When we receive an order from the 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.
* If you live in Australia and like to purchase an authentic Japanese sword, please click here to know the detail.
*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.
【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 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.