{"id":17624,"date":"2021-06-16T13:37:30","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T04:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=17624"},"modified":"2021-10-04T13:39:14","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T04:39:14","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-katana-signed-by-morihide-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-katana-signed-by-morihide-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Morihide
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon<\/strong> <\/span>Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Morihide with <\/span>Tokubetsu Hozon<\/span> <\/span>Certificate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u3010Description\u3011<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

According to NBTHK\u2019s appraisal, this blade was forged by Choshu Morihide(\u9577\u5dde\u76db\u79c0) during the Ka-Ei era(\u5609\u6c38:1848-1855). Morihide was one of the most renowned swordsmith living in the Choshu domain, Yamaguchi prefecture, during the Tenpo-Keio era(1831-1868). He was initially an apprentice of Seiryuken Moritoshi(\u9752\u9f8d\u8ed2\u76db\u4fca), who was also a famous swordsmith during the late Edo period.<\/p>\n

During Ka-Ei era, he finished his apprenticeship and became an independent swordsmith. And, he started to exclusively serve Mori clan, who ruled Choshu domain at the end of the Edo period. If a swordsmith works only for a specific clan, he is called Okakaekaji. Therefore, there were only selected skilled swordsmiths who became Okakaekaji. What is also interesting about Morihide is the fact that he was Samurai in that domain.<\/p>\n

He called himself Senryushi(\u6f5c\u9f8d\u5b50: A hidden child of Dragon). His real name was Fujimoto Samon(\u85e4\u672c\u5de6\u9580), and he also signed as Suo Yamaguchi Shi Morihide(Samurai of Suo city, Yamaguchi prefecture).<\/p>\n

His master Moritoshi was fortunate enough to learn great sword-forging technique from Chounsai Tsunatoshi(\u9577\u904b\u658e\u7db1\u4fca) and Koyama Munetsugu(\u56fa\u5c71\u5b97\u6b21). They are historically famous swordsmiths. And Moritoshi passed these excellent skills to his student, Morihide.<\/p>\n

We assume Morhide forged many swords for members or vassals of Mori clans during the late Edo period.<\/p>\n

This blade was registered by the board of education in Yamaguchi prefecture in the 28th of Showa era(1953). We assume this blade had been being preserved by descendants of Samurai family for generations, judging from where it was registered.<\/p>\n

This blade is appraised as 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). We believe Tsuba, Fuchi Kashira and Menuki were made at around the same time the blade was forged.<\/p>\n

\u3010 Blade\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\nCutting Edge Length(Nagasa)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a 70.3 cm( 27.67 inches)<\/strong>
\nCurvature(Sori)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a1.4\u00a0 cm( 0.55 inches)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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For more detailed measurement of the blade\/sword mounting<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Hamon<\/strong><\/span>\uff1a
\nThe crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process<\/strong>
\nJimon(Jihada)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a
\nvisible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Nakago<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Koshirae:\u00a0Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya(Scabbard), Tsuka( Handle), Tsuba(Handguard).<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Fuchi-Kashira<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aA pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The wave pattern is decorated on this Fuchi Kashira. The same theme is applied to Menuki and Tsuba.\u00a0 A family crest is also designed and is colored with golden metal. This family crest is called Hachisuka-Manji (\u8702\u9808\u8cc0\u534d) or Maru-ni Manji Mon (\u4e38\u306b\u534d\u6587). The Manji motif itself is one of the patterns brought to Japan with the introduction of Buddhism. A theory says it is initially related to Hinduism. This design represents luck and has been used as an emblem of temples.<\/p>\n

Hachisuka Koroku (\u8702\u9808\u8cc0 \u5c0f\u516d, his real name is Masakatsu), who was one of Toyotomi Hideyoshi\u2019s oldest vassals, used this design as his family crest. The Hachisuka family was a feudal lord based in Hachisuka District in Owari Province (\u5c3e\u5f35, today\u2019s western part of Aichi prefecture). Koroku also temporally served under famous Samurais such as Saito Dozan or Oda Nobutaka. In any case, Koroku decided on Hideyoshi as the lord of his life. And he remained loyal to Hideyoshi until his death. Many other Samurai families used the Manji pattern for their family crests; it shows how popular this design was among Samurais.<\/p>\n

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Tsuka and Menuki<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aTsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

A man who is holding a rod and a sea bream is hanging down from this rod. Seeing this appearance, we would guess this Menuki\u2019s motif is Ebisu (\u6075\u6bd4\u5bff) God. Ebisu God is a member of Shichifukujin (\u4e03\u798f\u795e, the Seven Gods of good fortune). Usually, he brings a fishing rod and a sea bream: so that he was initially regarded as the God of fishing. In this work, he has a friendly appearance with a soft expression; it suggests that Ebisu God has been one of the familiar beliefs for Japanese people since ancient times. Ports will be done well by the comings and goings of ships. Safe voyages will bring profitable businesses; therefore, Ebisu became famous as the God of trade. Also, in several areas, Ebisu is believed to the God of good match or wealth.<\/p>\n

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\nTsuba and Habaki<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aTsuba 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oval-shaped Tsuba made from iron. Its Mimi (\u8033, edge of Tsuba) is covered with golden metal. This decorative technique makes a gorgeous beauty for the work. It also has practicality, such as preventing the wear of the edge part. Or, it prevents the wear and tear of the Kimono if the edge damages it by touching the cloth.<\/p>\n

It seems this Tsuba depicts a scenery of a battle at the waterside. Samurais are facing each other across the river or sea. They look at enemies with stern expressions, holding their swords: their looks make us feel tense in mortal combat. Same as this Tsuba, many Tsuba works describe battlefields. Samurais might have wished to become brave soldiers like Samurais, who were depicted in those Tsubas.<\/p>\n

This Tsuba was signed by Goshu\u00a0no Jyu Unto (\u6c5f\u5dde\u4e4b\u4f4f\u96f2\u30c8) in Shiga prefecture during the late Edo period.<\/p>\n

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\nSaya<\/strong><\/span>\uff1a Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
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Authentication Paper<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0NBTHK<\/a><\/span><\/span>, 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 May 30th in the 29th year of Heisei (2017). 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<\/span><\/a><\/span> for your record if you request.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Registration Number : <\/span>Yamaguchi<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> 3788<\/strong>
\n\u00a0 The Board of Education in Yamaguchi 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. This paper will need to be returned to the board of education when the sword being shipped abroad but you can receive a copy of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010About us\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u00a0 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010Japanese Sword& Export Process<\/strong>\u3011<\/span>
\n\u00a0 The Japanese swords we deal with are hand-forged edged swords made in Japan. It was made from the traditional carbon steel called TAMAHAGANE(\u7389\u92fc)<\/span><\/a>. 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 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.
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\u00a0 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<\/strong> to receive this permit after submitting required documents. And we would like you to expect at least 1-1.5 months<\/strong> for your order to arrive at your given address after you ordered. For more detailed info, please click here<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u3010Payment Method\u3011<\/strong>
\nWe accept payment through Stripe <\/strong>(Credit card), PayPal<\/strong>, 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. <\/span>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 <\/strong>or GBP<\/strong>. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010Shipping\u3011<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany , France and Hong Kong<\/strong><\/span>. 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<\/strong><\/span> as long as we can send antique Japanese swords by either EMS or FedEx(USA, Canada).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 We normally ship by<\/span> EMS<\/strong>(Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. When we receive an order from the USA or Canada we will use <\/span>FedEx<\/strong> instead as EMS temporarily stops shipping from Japan to those countries due to COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 *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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u3010How to make sure the condition\u3011<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0 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.<\/span> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3010How To Contact Us\u3011<\/strong>
\nPlease 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.<\/p>\n

\u3010The Art of Nihonto(Japanese Sword)<\/strong>\u3011
\nSamurai’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.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\u3010A Guide to Japanese Sword Maintenance<\/strong>\u3011<\/span>
\n\u00a0 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<\/span><\/strong> sword maintenance kit, which appears in this video<\/span>.
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