Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Masataka with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
Masataka , also known as Tenryuji Masataka(天龍子正隆) was one of the most famous swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. His name, Tenryuji means the child of dragon in heaven. He forged the swords for a member of the emperor family, Chigusa Arikoto.He first lived in Osaka and the moved to Kyoto.
This blade was forged in the end of the Edo period(1864) when there was a civil war between Tokugawa’s military government and new Meiji government. The original owner of this Katana might have seen the moment when Samurai’s life changed forever.
Japanese swords under the blade length of 30 cm (11.6 inches) are generally called TANTO. It was originally used as a supplemental weapon for Samurai on horseback, who used a pole weapon or long sword in the Kamaura-Muromachi period. Samurai aimed at an unprotected area of his enemy’s armor while having to fight with close distance. This blade has 30.5 cm and it is technically categorized as Wakizashi in modern times but we assume this Wakizashi might have been used as Tanto because of its short length.
This blade has a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate issued by NBTHK. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, especially worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword). This sword comes with a beautiful scabbard and intricate sword fitting.
【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa): 30.5 cm (12.0 inches)
Curvature(Sori): 0.4 cm( 0.16 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.
It has the signature of Tenryuji Masataka (天龍子正隆) on one side. And the other side has the date it was forged(1864). 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.
Fuchi-Kashira:A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
Vines are inlaid with gold color. As ivy has vitality and it thrives strongly, this plant pattern represents prosperity and longevity.
Tsuka and Menuki:Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
Two men are designed. We can see the fishing rod and a kind of basket; they might be fishermen.
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 cherry blossom pattern decorates this Tsuba. Cherry blossom is one of the seasonal things of spring and has been loved for a long time. People enjoy using this flower pattern for sword mountings and for Kimono (traditional Japanese costume) or furnishings. It is believed the god of grain exists in cherry blossom; therefore, this flower pattern has been treated as the symbol of a plentiful harvest. People held a traditional event under cherry blossom trees to pray for a bumper year in ancient times. According to a theory, it is the origin of the cherry-blossom viewing picnic today.
The abstract dragon’s figure is inlaid at the upper side of the surface. Dragon is an imaginary creature that is found in ancient Chinese traditions or myths. This beast is a symbol 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, a 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 the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance. The dragon pattern is one of the most famous good-luck designs.
Saya: Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
Kozuka:Kozuka is a small knife stored in Koduka Hitsu(groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword).
Kozuka was made from Shakudou (赤銅). As Shakudou contains copper and a little amount of gold, it makes glossy purplish-black color. The base of this Kozuka was hit by the specific graver (Nanakoji Tagane), so its base has upheaval. Each small dot looks like a fish egg; therefore, this type of decoration is called “Nanakoji” in Japanese.
The fan caught on a tree branch is designed. This type of fan is called Gun-bai (軍配) in Japanese; it is a fan-shaped tool that was once used by military commanders to command in battles. The person who could have Gun-bai was the top of the army, Samurai, with ingenious schemes and decisive commanders. The Gun-bai motif might have been used as a symbol of the ideal type of character. Today, it is used by Sumo (相撲, Japanese wrestling) referees to judge the game.
Authentication Paper:NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade
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 19th in the second year of Reiwa(2020). 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 : Nagano 82680
The Board of Education in Nagano 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 300 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. 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, EUR or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
【Shipping】
We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, UK, Germany , France and Hong Kong. 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.
*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.
【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. When you purchase a Japanese sword from us, you can get a Free sword maintenance kit, which appears in this video.