on the right corner of the photo.Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Yasuyuki with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
【Description】
This blade is signed by Noto no Kami Fujiwara Yasuyuki (能登守藤原泰幸) in the Kanei era of the early Edo period (1624-1644), judging from the signature and NBTHK’s appraisal. He is a prominent swordsmith, also known as the father of Sagami no Kami Fujiwara Yasuyuki (相模守藤原泰幸).
Yasuyuki was originally from the Mino province (Today’s Gifu prefecture). However, he moved to Owari province (Today’s Aichi prefecture) to look for better job opportunities in the 15th year of the Keicho era (1610). It was around when Nagoya castle was built, and Owari province was active in martial arts during the early Edo period. There was much demand for swords among high-class Samurai residing near Nagoya castle. Yasuyuki met those demands by forging excellent quality blades.
Yasuyuki received the honorable official title of Noto no Kami from the emperor for his superb sword-forging techniques after he moved to Owari province. Considering that, we believe he resided in Owari when he forged this blade. He was active in sword-forging during the early Edo period. (approx. 1624-1644).
Mino Province
Mino Province is one of the most famous and historical sword-forging sites. There were so many schools forging blades during the Samurai period. It especially prospered during Sengoku Jidai(Warring State period) due to the high demand for weapons. And the location of Mino province beat others. Akechi Mitsuhide controlled Mino province, Nobunaga Oda ruled Owari province, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was the lord of Suruga (Neighboring areas). There was high demand from those powerful feudal lords and their retainers.
Furthermore, many wars occurred between the Kanto region and the Kyoto area. Mino is located in the middle, making feudal lords feel convenient to order swords from MINO swordsmiths. Many feudal lords demanded swords forged in the Mino province. The blades forged in MINO provinces also had a reputation for their practical design and sharpness.
The tradition of excellent sword forging skills had been passed throughout the Edo period, and Yasuyuki is a good example. And, to look for better opportunities, many swordsmiths in Mino province moved to other parts of Japan, such as Owari province, located right next to Mino province. Those who moved to Owari from Mino are called Owari Seki. Yasuyuki is one of the most famous Owari Seki swordsmiths. Others are Masatsune (政常)、Ujifusa (氏房), and Nobutaka (信高). We are confident you can appreciate the outstanding craft of Yasuyuki.
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 is a tiny chip on the blade as well as some Hike Kizu (scratch) on this blade. If you would like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa): 51.4 cm (20.2 inches)
Curvature (Sori): 1.0 cm (0.39 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 motif of this Fuchi-Kashira is a dragonfly (蜻蛉, tombo). Dragonflies have been inhabited in Japan for a long time. Since they prey quickly, their heroic figure was sometimes the object of belief. The dragonfly was called the Kachimushi (勝ち虫, winning insect) during the Warring States period because of its fearless character. Dragonflies fly around fast to catch pests, moving only forward, not backward. Therefore, people thought the behaviors of this insect showed the spirit of Futaiten (不退転); it is a state of mind or a state in which a person has some conviction and does not give in to difficulties. It is very persuasive that Samurai warriors cherished this design as an auspicious motif because of the spirit that Samurai should be prepared for the battlefields. Not only for sword mountings, dragonfly patterns were also incorporated into various items such as helmets, armor, battle coats, etcetera.
Tsuka and Menuki: Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
This menuki appears to depict a waterwheel (水車, Suisha). During the Edo period, waterwheels were widely used as power sources in agriculture and daily life, supporting irrigation, threshing, and grain milling. From the mid to late Edo period, their use and technology developed significantly, expanding to rice polishing, flour milling, and even more complex mechanical systems such as karakuri devices. As a motif, the waterwheel symbolizes continuous effort, stability, and sustained prosperity, reflecting its steady motion driven by the natural flow of water.
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 theme of this Tsuba is a dragon (龍, Ryū).
The dragon was originally an imaginary creature from ancient Chinese traditions and myths. It is considered a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is described as a combination of nine animals: antlers of a deer, the head of a camel, eyes of a demon, the neck of a snake, the belly of a Mizuchi (a Japanese mythical creature resembling a horned, four-legged serpent), scales of a fish, claws of a falcon, palms of a tiger, and ears of a cow. Because of this extraordinary form, the dragon was believed to reign at the top of all creatures.
In ancient China, dragon motifs were used exclusively for the emperor’s clothing, with strict rules regarding the design and even the number of claws. In Japan, however, such rigid regulations did not exist, and the dragon motif was widely used while still retaining its meaning as an all-purpose auspicious design.
In addition, in Japan the dragon is also revered as a water deity, known as Ryūjin Shinkō (竜神信仰). Since rice cultivation has always depended on water, the dragon became a familiar and powerful symbol deeply connected to Japanese life and culture.
Kozuka : Kozuka is a small knife stored in Kozuka Hitsu(groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword).
The theme of the kozuka is a waterfowl, most likely a duck (kamo, 鴨). Among the various water birds native to Japan, ducks are among the most familiar and commonly encountered. They can be seen in rivers, lakes, rice fields, and even urban parks throughout the country, particularly during the autumn and winter months when migratory species arrive.
In Japanese culture, ducks are closely associated with seasonal beauty, tranquility, and the gentle transitions of nature. They are also regarded as symbols of fidelity, as many species form strong and lasting pair bonds. For this reason, duck motifs have often been used in art to represent harmony, peaceful companionship, and enduring relationships.
Saya: Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
The surface of this Saya is decorated with the Ishime-Ji (石目地) or Ishime-Nuri (石目塗). Its base was hit by Tagane (鏨, chisel for metalworking), and it makes a rough surface that seems stone.
Authentication Paper: NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 141528 )
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 August 7th in the 8th year of Heisei (1996). 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: Osaka 113162
The Board of Education in Osaka 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.
