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Updated: 19 Feb 2025

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Fujiwara Toshinaga
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate

$10,531.85

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 Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case (Plain Wooden case for the blade), Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support

Category Katana ( SHINTO)
Age Early Edo Period(Enpo era: 1673-1681)
Swordsmith Mutsu no kami Fujiwara Toshinaga
(陸奥守藤原歳長)
Certificate NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
Location Yamashiro Province (Today’s Kyoto) ⇒ Ise province(Mie prefecture) 
Blade Size Cutting Edge Length: 69.9 cm (27.5 inches)
Curvature:  1.9 cm (0.74 inches)

More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us. 

In stock

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Fujiwara Toshinaga with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 

【Description】

Summary

 This blade was sigined by Mutsu no kami Fujiwara Toshinaga(陸奥守藤原歳長), who is a well-known swordsmith, active during the early Edo period (Enpo era: 1673-1681). The sound of Toshinaga is considered good luck in Japan because it means to live long. It is said that the swords forged by him were very popular among high-classed Samurai because of his maker’s name and highly skilled artistry.

 Toshinaga was born as the second son of the first-gen Toshinaga, who ran a prestigious school in Awa province(today’s Tokushima prefecture in Shikoku island). In total, there were three sons studying the sword-forging technique under the father, including Toshinaga. They eventually moved to Yamashiro Koku(today’s Kyoto) to become apprentices of Horikawa Kunihiro school, one of the most famous schools in Kyoto. Since Toshinaga moved to Kyoto, many of works were created there.

 

 The first son and the third son signed as Toshinaga as well but received different titles. While the second son(the person who forged this blade) had Mutsu no Kami as an official title, the first son had Yamashiro no Kami, and the third son had Musashi no Kami. Kami

 Later in his career, Mutsu no Kami Fujiwara Toshinaga moved to Ise province (today’s Mie Prefecture) to serve Todo clan(藤堂家). Todo Takatora(藤堂高虎) is the most famous figure in this clan, and he made a strong presence in Sengoku Jidai(Warring sate period). The Todo clan was one of the most powerful clans in that region during the early Edo period. Based on this fact, we presume Toshinaga’s sword-forging technique was superb enough to impress the influential feudal family.
He only forged swords for the Todo clan after moving to Ise province. It is hard to conclude where he forged this blade, but it should be Yamashiro(Kyoto) or Ise(Mie prefecture) based on the historical record.

 

 It 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.

 

【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) 69.9 cm (27.5 inches)
Curvature(Sori) 1.9 cm (0.74 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. 

 

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.

 

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 sword mountings of this Katana’s Koshirae are related to one motif: The Tales of Ise (伊勢物語, Ise-monogatari). It is a classic work of Japanese literature, written in the 10th century. It is a collection of poems and stories that revolve around the life and loves of an unnamed aristocratic man, often believed to be based on the poet and courtier Ariwara no Narihira (在原業平). The story explores his romantic adventures, personal struggles, and deep emotional experiences.

Plot Summary of The Tales of Ise

 The narrative follows the protagonist’s journey through various episodes of love, loss, and longing. He is portrayed as a nobleman who has many romantic relationships, often with women of high social status. Each episode is accompanied by poems that reflect his feelings. The story is less about a continuous plot and more about capturing moments of emotional depth, especially related to love and separation.

 Some key themes include the fleeting nature of love and beauty, the melancholy of unrequited love, and the tension between personal desires and societal expectations. Throughout the tale, the protagonist’s encounters with women, his occasional regrets, and his reflections on the passage of time are highlighted.

 The Tales of Ise is not just a tale of love; it also provides a glimpse into the culture and aesthetics of the Heian period in Japan. It is famous for its lyrical beauty and its exploration of the human condition, especially the emotions tied to love and loss.

 

 

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

 This Fuchi-Kashira features a family crest, though the specific family it belongs to is unknown. However, it can be confidently identified as a “Ken-Mokkō-mon”.  The “Mokkō”  symbolizes prosperity and the continuation of descendants, as it means represents the cross-section of a gourd when sliced. The addition of a sword to the crest makes it a fitting design for Samurai, symbolizing both the flourishing of their lineage and an increase in their combat prowess.

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

 If you look closely, you might notice many swirl-like shapes. These are actually the curls of a lion’s mane. While lions do not live in Japan, items and stories featuring lion designs were brought to Japan from the continent around the 7th century. Unlike actual lions, these early depictions often show lions with spiraling golden curls on their heads and bodies, much like the lions seen on this Menuki.
   

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. 

 This Tsuba features two iconic flowers of early summer in Japan: the iris (杜若, kakitsubata) on the front, and wisteria (藤, fuji) on the back. In The Tales of Ise, the iris appears in the chapter “Azuma-kudari (“The Eastern Journey”)”. In this chapter, the protagonist, while traveling away from his homeland, recites one of the most famous poems in the work:

 “Like the Karakoromo (Japanese style robes) that I have worn many times and grown accustomed to,
She, my wife, whom I am so familiar with, it is because she is in the capital that I now feel the loneliness of this distant journey (らころも、つつなれにし、ましあれば、るばるきぬる、びをしぞおもふ).”

 This poem compares the protagonist’s deep, familiar connection to his wife with the comfort of wearing his well-worn karakoromo. The poem conveys his feelings of longing and separation as his wife remains in the capital, and the distance intensifies the loneliness he feels on his journey. In Japanese, if you take the first syllable of each line (“からころも”, “きつつなれにし”, “つましあれば”, “はるばるきぬる”), the initials form the word “かきつばた” (kakitsubata), which is the name of the iris flower. In the context of The Tales of Ise, the iris represents themes of beauty, longing, and nobility, much like the emotional depth expressed in the poem.

 Wisteria has strong fertility and grows being entwined with other trees. Therefore, people regarded this flower as a symbol of longevity and prosperity for future generations. Also, its Japanese name Fuji (藤) is likened to another word Fushi, which is written as “不死,” which means immortality. That is why the Fujiwara (藤原) family, who reached the height of glory in the Heian period (794-1185), used this motif for their family name and family crest. A theory says that more than 100 types of wisteria’s family crest designs in the Edo period. We could assume how this motif was popular among people. Besides, wisterias bloom downward. Its appearance was likened to a scene in which the gods or Buddha is descending to the earth.

Saya Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.  

 This Saya 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.

 Also, the moon is designed on this Saya. In The Tales of Ise, there is a symbolic scene in the chapter “Azuma-kudari (東下り)” where the protagonist gazes at the moon, feeling a deep sense of loneliness. This reflects the ancient reverence for the sun and the moon, which were seen as symbols of authority and power. The moon, in particular, has been depicted in various forms throughout history—whether a full moon, half-moon, crescent, or hazy moon—each phase representing different aspects of life. Just as the moon changes its shape, it also symbolizes growth, development, and the passage of time, echoing the protagonist’s own emotional journey.

Authentication PaperNBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1022392)

  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 Feb 21th in the 6th year of Reiwa (2024). 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 : Tokyo 128700

 The Board of Education in Tokyo issued a registration paper for this sword. It is called Jyu Hou Token Rui Tourokusho (銃砲刀剣類登録証). 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 1000 Japanese swords for the past few years (~2025) 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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