{"id":43609,"date":"2023-11-19T21:37:15","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T12:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=43609"},"modified":"2024-02-17T21:40:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-17T12:40:22","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-wakizashi-signed-by-tegarayama-ujishige-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-wakizashi-signed-by-tegarayama-ujishige-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Tegarayama Ujishige
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon<\/strong> <\/span>Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Tegarayama Ujishige with NBTHK Tokubestsu<\/span> Hozon<\/span> Certificate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

This blade was signed by Banshu Tagarayama Fujiwara Ujishige (\u64ad\u5dde\u624b\u67c4\u5c71\u85e4\u539f\u6c0f\u7e41) in the 7th year of the Tenmei era (1787: the late Edo period). Banshu is another name for Harima province in today’s Hyogo prefecture. Tegarayama is the school Ujishige belonged to. The maker’s name, Ujishige, lasted a few generations. And, based on the year it was made, we believed it was created by the third-gen Ujishige.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0First, Ujishige signed \u6c0f\u91cd. While the name’s pronunciation was the same, a different Kanji character was used for the second letter. They used \u6c0f\u91cd as their maker’s name between the 1 -3 generations. And they received Yamato Daijo, an honorable official title from the imperial court, for their excellent craftsmanship. However, the fourth generation Ujishige had to change it to \u6c0f\u7e41 by the order made by Harima province. In 1788, the 4th-gen Ujishige was hired by Matsudaira Sadanobu, the third head of Shirakawa domain in Fukushima prefecture, as an Okakaekaji. Okakaekaji is a swordsmith exclusively serving one domain or lord. And the 4th-gen Ujishige was also forged in Edo city (Today’s Tokyo). He received Kai no Kami in 1803, being acknowledged by Matsudaira Sadanobu.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0It is said that one of the blades forged by the 4th-gen Ujishige was owned by Nagakura Shinpachi, a member of Shinsengumi (\u65b0\u9078\u7d44), a military unit formed as guards or Shogun at the end of the Edo period.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The school’s name Tagarama came from the fact that they forged blades near Tegarayama mountain. Tegara means achievement in Japanese, and because of this auspicious name, the blades made by members of Tegarama school were popular among high-class Samurai.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0This blade is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token<\/strong>(\u7279\u5225\u4fdd\u5b58\u5200\u5263) issued by NBTHK(Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai:\u65e5\u672c\u7f8e\u8853\u5200\u5263\u4fdd\u5b58\u5354\u4f1a). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, especially well preserved and high quality with artistic value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010Blade\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\nCutting Edge Length(Nagasa)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a54.5 <\/strong>cm (21.4 <\/strong>inches)<\/strong><\/span>
\nCurvature(Sori)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a0.90<\/strong> <\/span>cm (0.35 inches)<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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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>\uff1aNakago is the tang of the Japanese sword.<\/strong><\/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: Koshirae 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>
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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

\u00a0We think this Fuchi Kashira is made from copper. The surface of this Fuchi Kashira is decorated with the Nanako-Ji (\u9b5a\u5b50\u5730) technique. This process creates a uniform minimal protrusions pattern by hitting the Nanako-Ji Tagane (\u9b5a\u5b50\u5730\u93e8, a chisel for this technique) on a metal surface. This decorative technique is often seen on sword mountings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0About the design, you would find the figure of a bird resting its wings on a tree branch on each Fuchi and Kashira part. While some colorings have already faded due to aging, golden paint was initially applied to these birds and branches. We estimate these birds are Karasus (\u70cf, crow) because of their appearance. Crows are animals closely associated with solar worship. Ancient people believed that a three-legged bird lived in the sun. At a shrine where a crow is worshipped as a messenger of the gods, the three-legged crow represents heaven, earth (natural environment), and humans. This view says that God, nature, and humans are brothers born from the same sun.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0You would find the Ume (\u6885, Japanese apricot blossom) flowers and branches are the motif of this Menuki. Japanese apricot blossoms begin to bloom in winter when snow still covers trees, so people thought this flower tells the arrival of spring. The same as cherry blossom, it has been appreciated for a long time in Japan. People enjoy its adorable petal shape and scent, and gracefully branched tree, and compose many poems. Since it comes out in the cold season, this flower symbolizes the power of perseverance and vitality.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tsuba 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

\u00a0This Tsuba has a symmetrical design. We believe it depicts a dragon designed in an abstract style on the right and left sides of the screen. And a jewel is placed at the top of this Tsuba.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Considering the appearance of this Tsuba, we think it is categorized as the Nanban Tsuba (\u5357\u86ee\u9414). Nanban Tsubas usually have circle shapes or Mokkou (\u6728\u74dc) shapes. Dragons, foreign letters, or arabesque designs are often engraved and inlaid with gold or silver on the thin iron. This style\u2019s Tsuba has an exotic mood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Initially, dragons were imaginary creatures found in ancient foreign traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as 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, the belly is the Mizuchi (\u86df, a mythical animal in Japan that looks like a snake and has a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers, and ears are cows. The dragon was thought to reign at the top of all animals because of its odd appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0There is a possibility that the dragons designed on this Tsuba might be Ameryu (\u96e8\u7adc). Ameryu is a kind of dragon who controls the rain. It is believed that Ameryu would make rain in the proof when God is blessed. According to a theory, Ameryu is the young shape of the dragon. That is why they have a charming look compared to other types of dragons. This beast has been thought to be a small spirit who lives in forests. Their appearance is similar to a dragon. And in Japan, snake worship was common among people because the serpent has a deep relationship with the water god faith. It might be the reason why Japanese people love the Ameryu pattern.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saya<\/strong><\/span>\uff1a Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
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Authentication Paper<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1019024)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0NBTHK<\/span><\/a>, 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 Dec 14th in the 4th year of Reiwa <\/span>\u00a0(2022). 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> for your record if you request.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Registration Number :\u00a0<\/span> Wakayama 4429<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0The Board of Education in Wakayama prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword. It is called Jyu Token Rui Torokusho(\u9283\u5200\u5263\u985e\u767b\u9332\u8a3c). Bunkacho(The Agency for Cultural Affairs) acknowledges a Japanese sword with this paper as a work of art.
\nThe 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.
\nThis 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010About us\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\n\u00a0Samurai 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\u00a0The 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 700 Japanese swords for the past few years (\uff5e2024) to amazing owners who appreciate its historical value.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Each 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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\u00a0To 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

\u00a0It is allo<\/span>wed 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. 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 <\/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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* If the amount is above 1 million JPY, Stripe or wire transfer will be the only options for payment.<\/p>\n

\u3010Shipping\u3011<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Hong Kong and Australia<\/span><\/a><\/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 EMS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0We normally ship by EMS<\/strong>(Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. <\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0It 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

* If you live in Australia and like to purchase an authentic Japanese sword, please click here<\/span><\/span> <\/a>to know the detail.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u3010Review\u3011<\/strong>
\n\u00a0Here is o<\/span>ne of the reviews we received from a customer who purchased an authentic Japanese sword from us. For more reviews, please click here.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\n\u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3010How to make sure the condition\u3011<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0Please 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>
\n\u00a0Please 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 w<\/span>ebsite. 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
\n\u00a0Samurai’s history is a profound, eloquent legacy of ancient Japanese warriors in which millions of people worldwide are being fascinated. If y<\/span>ou 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\u00a0After 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.<\/span><\/p>\n