on the right corner of the photo.Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Kunikane with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
This blade was signed by Sendai Jyu Fujiwara Kunikane (仙台住藤原国包) in August 1867 (the late Edo period). The maker’s name Kunikane lasted 13 generations. Based on the year it was forged, we assume this sword is the work of the 13th generation, also known as “Eisuke (栄助).” He was active from the late Edo period into the early Meiji era, and is said to have died in June of Meiji 13 (1880). Sendai is the city’s name in Miyagi prefecture. This engraving means that Kunikane lived in this area when he forged this blade.
The first-gen Kunikane was a descendant of the Hosho school members in Yamato province (Today’s Nara prefecture). The first-gen was famous for serving Date Masamune, one of the most famous feudal lords in Japanese history and a legendary figure even today. Under Date Masamune’s order, the first-gen Kunikane was sent to Kyoto in 1614 to become an apprentice of Etchu no Kami Masatoshi, who belonged to Mishina school and was one of the most famous swordsmiths in Kyoto back then. After mastering superb craftsmanship, Kunikane returned to Mutsu province, another name for Oshu, in the fifth year of the Genwa era (1619). He received the honorable official title of Yamashiro Daijo for his excellent sword-forging techniques in the third year of the Kan-ei era (1626).
The maker’s name Kunikane lasted thirteen generations until the early Meiji period. And they all served the Date clan exclusively, forging high-quality blades. And they pursued their ancestor’s sword-forging styles from Hosho school in Yamato province (Today’s Nara prefecture).
If you are looking for an antique Japanese sword related to the Date clan, we are confident you will be pleased to add this Katana to your collection.
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.
*Please keep in mind that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu as well as a tiny chip on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa): 33.1cm (13.03 inches)
Curvature (Sori): 0.3cm (0.12 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 pomegranate (柘榴, Zakuro) design on a Nanakoji (魚子地) ground. The background is covered with countless tiny, evenly spaced dots, made by stamping the metal one dot at a time. This dotted texture is called Nanakoji, because it resembles fish eggs.
The main motif appears to be a pomegranate. It is often shown as a round fruit with a small crown-like calyx at the tip, along with slender leaves and branches. In Japanese decorative arts, pomegranates are commonly associated with fertility, abundance, and prosperity, because the fruit contains many seeds.
Tsuka and Menuki: Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
This Menuki depicts Kakitsubata (杜若, Japanese water iris). The motif is shown with slender, blade-like leaves rising in a tight cluster, and iris blossoms suggested in a simplified, sculptural way. Kakitsubata is a classic seasonal theme in Japanese art, closely associated with early summer and with water-side landscapes such as marshes and ponds. In Japanese aesthetics, the iris is often used to evoke elegance and refined beauty.
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 motif of this tsuba is Unryū (雲龍), a dragon intertwined with swirling clouds. The design typically shows a powerful dragon emerging from, or disappearing into, cloud forms, creating a sense of movement and dramatic energy even within a limited space.
Initially, the dragon is an imaginary creature found in ancient Chinese traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, belly is Mizuchi (蛟, mythical animal in Japan which looks like a snake and have a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers, and ears are cows. It was thought that the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance.
Also, in Japan, there is a belief that worships dragon as a water god and is called Ryujin Shinkou (竜神信仰). Since rice cultivation flourished in this country, water is always an essential resource. Therefore, the dragon motif has been familiar to Japanese people since a long time ago.
Saya: Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
This Saya appears to have an ishime-nuri finish, a lacquer technique used to create a stone-like, textured surface. The ground is mostly dark, with fine reddish speckling that gives it a subtle, grainy look
Authentication Paper: NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1022950 )
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 Auguest 23th 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: Gunma 32139
The Board of Education in Gunma 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.
【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, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Hong Kong UK, 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 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.
【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.
