Antique Japanese Sword Tanto signed by Yamato Daijo Kaneshige with NBTHK Hozon Certificate
【Description】
Summary
This sword bears the signature of Yamato Daijō Kaneshige(大和大掾兼重). It is difficult to determine exactly which Kaneshige forged this blade, as several swordsmiths used that name. Based on available evidence and what NBTHK informed us, this piece may have been made by a Kaneshige who was active in the early-mid Edo period. The use of the character “兼” (Kane) in the name suggests that the swordsmith may have belonged to the Mino tradition, a well-known school of sword-making characterized by its practical and robust style.
The swordsmiths of Mino province, known for their unwavering dedication and exceptional craftsmanship, developed a unique sword-forging tradition called Mino-den (美濃伝). This tradition was characterized by togari-ba (pointed shapes protruding from the hamon), a classic straight temper line, and a midare-ba (irregular temper pattern) sometimes accompanied by a whitish utsuri. Mino-den originated from Yamato-den in the late Kamakura period (1280–1330) and flourished throughout the Nanbokuchō and Muromachi periods (1333–1573), continuing its legacy well into the Edo period (1603–1868). The evolution and endurance of Mino-den stand as a testament to the skill and artistry of its swordsmiths.
Mino-den reached its peak during the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States period, 1467-1590), when the demand for weapons surged. The province’s strategic location gave it a competitive edge—Akechi Mitsuhide controlled Mino, Oda Nobunaga ruled neighboring Owari, and Tokugawa Ieyasu governed Suruga. These powerful feudal lords and their retainers required a steady supply of weapons. Additionally, Mino was geographically positioned between the Kantō region and Kyoto, making it a convenient hub for sword orders. The blades produced in Mino were renowned for their practical design and exceptional sharpness, further solidifying the province’s reputation as a premier center for sword production. The highly refined craftsmanship has passed to the Edo period as well and many of the swordsmiths in Mino moved to other parts of Japan for other opportunities. Kaneshige is thought to have been one of them.
This blade is appraised as a Hozon Touken (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, well preserved and high quality with artistic value.
*Please keep in mind that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa): 23.4cm (9.21 inches)
Curvature (Sori): 0 cm (0 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.
The design of this fuchi kashira features features a horse depicted alongside bellflowers (桔梗, kikyo) and chrysanthemums (菊, kiku), both of which are part of the Aki no Nanakusa—the Seven Flowers of Autumn in Japanese tradition.
Aki no Nanakusa (秋の七草), or the Seven Flowers of Autumn, are a group of traditional Japanese wildflowers that have been celebrated in poetry and art since ancient times. Unlike the Seven Herbs of Spring, which are edible and associated with health and nourishment, the autumn flowers are appreciated purely for their beauty and poetic symbolism.
Tsuka and Menuki: Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
The menuki (hilt ornaments) on this sword depict a mounted warrior holding a naginata (polearm), likely representing a prominent military figure from ancient China.
One of the most famous Chinese generals known for wielding a naginata is Guan Yu, a legendary hero from the late Eastern Han to the Three Kingdoms period. He is traditionally depicted riding a red hare horse and wielding the massive Green Dragon Crescent Blade (青龍偃月刀, known in Chinese as Qinglong Yanyue Dao), which is said to have weighed 82 jin—approximately 18 kilograms by the standards of that era.
Due to the similarities in appearance and armament, the figure on the menuki may have been modeled after Guan Yu.
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.
The surface of this Tsuba is decorated with the Ishime-Ji (石目地). Its base was hit by Tagane (鏨, chisel for metalworking), and it makes a rough surface that seems stone.
Kozuka：Kozuka is a small knife stored in Kozuka Hitsu (groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword).
The kozuka (small utility knife) also features a depiction of a warrior on horseback, likely representing Guan Yu riding his legendary Red Hare.
Among the more than 500 heroes featured in the historical epic “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, Guan Yu stands out as one of the most famous and revered figures.
He is celebrated not only for his martial prowess and loyalty, but also for his enduring legacy in Chinese and East Asian culture.
Saya: Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
This saya features a decorative lacquer technique known as Fuemaki-nuri (笛巻塗).
The name literally means “flute-wrap lacquer” and refers to a style in which thin cords or string are wrapped around the scabbard before being coated with multiple layers of lacquer. After drying, the surface is polished, creating a textured, ridged pattern that resembles the wrapping of a traditional Japanese flute (笛, fue).
*Please keep in mind that there are some area where you can see the restoration work.
Authentication Paper: NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the blade (No.326056)
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 January 17th in the 3rd year of Heisei (1991). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade 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 254389
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.
【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.
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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.
