The Art of Nihonto – Guide to buying the Japanese sword
Preface
Samurai’s history is a profound, eloquent legacy of ancient Japanese warriors in which millions of people worldwide are being fascinated. Samurais themselves played the most significant role in this thing- They went from the imperial army to reconstructing the whole system and reigning Samurai’s country for over seven centuries. Thus, one of their primary weapons, Katana (Japanese sword), began to have many important meanings attached as times went on. Katana is still deemed one of Samurai’s most significant cultural heritage in today’s Japanese culture.
To those who have yet to discover the real value of the Japanese sword “Katana,” – this article is for you.
Katana is beautiful
The Japanese sword is the kind of art that has grown over history. Swordsmiths over the years would make minimal changes to the blade’s curvature, the Hamon, length, width, and all the other detailed features to please the sword’s owner and let the sword hold its own identity. That is why Katana has become so beautiful. In every part of the blade, you see the swordsmith’s intent and Samurai’s love and aspiration for Katana.
Attention to Detail
Above brings us to the next part; the detail. It gets more important as you learn more about Katana. The blade’s significant features such as Hamon, the size, type of curvature, other segments such as the handguard, the grip, the scabbard, and the list goes on and on. One can only build a gem-worthy Katana when all these segments are put together deliberately. To see the monument of tremendous work by the swordsmith – It is legitimately an eye-opening experience every time you learn something from it.
Style
Blacksmiths regarding Katana were known to have had individual styles in their work. The five most popular ones were Yamato-Den, Soshu-Den, Mino-Den, Yamashiro-Den, and Bizen-Den, branching out to countless other swordsmith schools.
They differed in the blade’s design, the texture of metal, shape, etc.
Katana Is the Reflection of Samurai’s Life
Last but the most significant of all, Katana represent Samurai’s lives in the past era. The signs and artworks in Katana are believed to have been based on people’s religious/philosophical views. If you take a close look at it, you can tell that every Katana has a story to tell.
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Here are some of our customers who have purchased a Katana at Samurai Museum Shop in the past.
Here are some ways our customers appreciate their Japanese swords.
We also received reviews from our customers who purchased authentic Japanese swords. Please feel free to click here if you are interested in checking the reviews.
Here we call it for the introduction. If you are ready to get a Katana, we are happy to assist you as much as you need.
SAMURAI MUSEUM
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$9,719.94
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*There might be delay in shipment depending on countries
SHIPPING TO : USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana( SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo period(1645-1648) |
Swordsmith |
Yamashiro Daijyo Minamoto Kunishige(山城大掾源国重) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Bitchu province (Today’s Okayama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 71.5 cm(28.1 inches)
Curvature: 1.8 cm(0.70 inches) |
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$8,423.94
DELIVERY TIME: Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO:
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED: NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case (Plain Wooden Case), Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHINTO :新刀)
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Age |
Early Edo Period |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Hizen the first-gen Tadayoshi
(肥前初代忠吉: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Hizen province (Today’s Saga prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 66.1 cm ( 26.0 inches)
Curvature: 1.3 cm (0.51 inches)
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More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$12,311.92
DELIVERY TIME: Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO:
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED: NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHIN SHIN TO :新々刀)
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Age |
4th year of the Bunkyu era (1864) |
Swordsmith |
Bizen no Suke Fujiwara Munetsugu (備前介藤原宗次) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Musashi province (Tokyo prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 69.0 cm (27.1 inches)
Curvature: 1.21 cm (0.47 inches)
|
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$5,831.96
DELIVERY TIME: Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO:
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED: NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHINTO :新刀)
|
Age |
Early Edo period |
Swordsmith |
attributed to Izumi no Kami Kaneshige (和泉守兼重: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Musashi province (Tokyo prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 68.5 cm ( 26.9 inches)
Curvature: 1.51 cm (0.59 inches)
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More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$7,127.95
DELIVERY TIME: Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO:
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED: NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHIN SHIN TO :新々刀)
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Age |
The second year of the Tenpo era (1831) |
Swordsmith |
Inhanshi Uemura Motokazu (因藩士植村元一) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Inaba province (Tottori prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 69.2 cm ( 27.2 inches)
Curvature: 1.4 cm (0.55 inches)
|
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$16,199.89
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO :
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Hong Kong, France, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NTHK Kanteisho Certificate×2 , Shirasaya Case×2 , Koshirae Mounting×2, Traditional Sword Carrying Case×2 (both for Shirasaya &Koshirae), Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana& Wakizashi ( Shinto) |
Age |
Tesho era (1573-1592)& Tenpo era (1831-1845) |
Swordsmith |
Attributed to Dotanuki Masakuni (同田貫正国) & Aizu Kanesada (会津兼定) |
Certificate |
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate×2 ( Katana, Wakizashi) |
Location |
Higo province (Kumamoto prefecture)/ Aizu province (Fukushima prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Length: 60.5 cm (23.8 inches)
Curvature: 0.8 cm (0.31 inches)
Cutting Length: 35.5 cm (13.9 inches)
Curvature: 0 cm (0 inches) |
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$10,367.93
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO :
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Hong Kong, France, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHINT SHIN TO) |
Age |
The 12th year of the Tenpo era (1841) |
Swordsmith |
Fujiwara Hisayuki (藤原久幸) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Edo (Today’s Tokyo prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 76.0 cm (29.9 inches)
Curvature: 2.8 cm (1.10 inches) |
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$5,183.97
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO :
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : Shirasaya Case (Plain Wooden Case), Koshirae (Decorative Sword Mounting), Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (Gendaito)
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Age |
the 1st year of the Heisei era (1989) |
Swordsmith |
Koshi no Kuni Matsukura Ju Yasumitsu (越国松倉住康光) |
Certificate |
– |
Location |
Matsukura (Today’s Toyama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 74.1 cm (29.2 inches)
Curvature: 2.3 cm (0.91 inches)
|
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$7,775.95
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO :
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany , Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate , Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mountings), Shirasaya Case, Traditional Sword Carrying Bags, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana (SHINTO) |
Age |
Early Edo period |
Swordsmith |
Nanki Shigekuni (南紀重国) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate |
Location |
Kishu province (Today’s Wakayama prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 66.6 cm ( 26.2 inches)
Curvature: 1.3 cm (0.51 inches)
|
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.
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$8,099.95
DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*We ship from Tokyo, Japan. There might be delay in shipment depending on countries.
SHIPPING TO :
USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Hong Kong, France, Finland, Australia
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.
INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support
Category |
Katana ( KOTO) |
Age |
Late Muromachi period |
Swordsmith |
Kongo Hyoei (金剛兵衛: Unsigned) |
Certificate |
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate |
Location |
Chikuzen province (Today’s Fukuoka prefecture) |
Blade Size |
Cutting Edge Length: 66.0 cm (26.0 inches)
Curvature: 1.5 cm (0.59 inches) |
More photos& videos available on request. Please feel free to contact us.