{"id":55576,"date":"2024-09-05T12:45:07","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T03:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=55576"},"modified":"2024-11-05T13:49:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T04:49:05","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-hirofusa-nthk-kanteisho-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-hirofusa-nthk-kanteisho-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Hirofusa
NTHK Kanteisho Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Katana attributed to Gimeisai Hirofusa with NTHK Kanteisho Certificate<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0This blade is attributed to a work of Gimeisai Hirofusa (\u7fa9\u670b\u658e\u5e83\u623f), or called Seishu Kuwana Ju Gimeisai Mishina Hirofusa (\u52e2\u5dde\u6851\u540d\u4f4f\u7fa9\u670b\u658e\u4e09\u54c1\u5e83\u623f), a well-known swordsmith during the Kaei era (1848 – 1855: late Edo period), according to NTHK\u2019s appraisal. Seishu is the name of the province located in Today\u2019s Mie prefecture and Seishu Kuwana Ju means he resided in this area when he forged blades. Gimeisai is the title named by himself, and Mishina is the name of the school Hirofusa belonged to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0His father is Kuwana Ju Gisensai Mishina Hiromichi (\u6851\u540d\u4f4f\u7fa9\u5c02\u658e\u4e09\u54c1\u5e83\u9053), who was active during 1848-1868 (the end of the Edo period). He is known as a younger brother of the 9th Mutsu no Kami Omichi (\u9678\u5965\u5b88\u5927\u9053). While he mainly resided in Kuwana city, there is also a record of him forging swords in Iga city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Among the Omichi family, Hirofusa is said to have been one of the most skilled swordsmiths, producing deep blade patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mishina School<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u00a0Mishina school was founded by the first-gen Mutsu no Kami Omichi (\u9678\u5965\u5b88\u5927\u9053). It is said that initially, he was from Mino province, exclusively forging blades for Shingen Takeda, a famous feudal lord. Later on, he moved to Kyoto by bringing his four sons and founded his school in Kyoto. They were Iga no Kami Kinmichi (\u4f0a\u8cc0\u5b88\u91d1\u9053)\u3001Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi (\u548c\u6cc9\u5b88\u6765\u91d1\u9053), Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi (\u4e39\u6ce2\u5b88\u5409\u9053) and Echu no kami Masatoshi (\u8d8a\u4e2d\u5b88\u6b63\u4fca). His sons were known as Kyoto Gokaji (\u4eac\u90fd\u4e94\u935b\u51b6), prestigious swordsmiths forging in Kyoto in the early Edo period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Mishina school was prosperous throughout the Edo period and spread to other parts of Japan, such as Kuwana. And the superb craftsmanship of Mishina school was passed down for generations. Hiromichi is a good example, and you can see excellent artistry from this blade.<\/span><\/p>\n

Horimono (Engraving)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0This blade has beautiful engravings on both sides. You would find the Horimono of Suken (\u7d20\u5263) and the Tama oi Ryu (\u73e0\u8ffd\u9f8d) on this blade.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Suken is a simplified design of the Sanko-Duka-Ken (\u4e09\u9237\u67c4\u5263), which is a sword that the Fudo Myo-O (\u4e0d\u52d5\u660e\u738b: acalan\u0101tha, one of the objects of worship in Buddhism) brings. It is an esoteric Buddhist tool used for esoteric prayer, meditation, purification, and amulets. It is believed that this sword would exorcize evil spirits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Tama oi Ryu is the design of a dragon (\u9f8d, Ryu) chasing after a ball-shaped jem (\u73e0, Tama). The word \u8ffd (oi) means chasing. The jem is a ball with a pointed upper tip and accompanied by a flame. In Buddhism, it is said that by obtaining the ball, any wish would be fulfilled.<\/span><\/p>\n

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*Please keep in mind that there are a few black rust spots on the blade. If you like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u3010 Blade\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\nCutting Edge Length (Nagasa)\uff1a69.7 cm (27.4 inches)<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\nCurvature (Sori)\uff1a0.9 cm (0.35 inches)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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Kissaki\uff1a<\/span><\/strong><\/span>Kissaki is the tip\u00a0of the Japanese sword.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Nakago\uff1a<\/span><\/strong><\/span>Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Japanese 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Koshirae\uff1aKoshirae 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

\u00a0The theme of this Fuchi Kashira’s design is waves (\u6ce2, Nami).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0As waves\u2019 movements continue endlessly, the wave pattern represents eternity, immortality, longevity, birth, etcetera. Also, since tides repeatedly change the shape and terrain of rocks, some people hoped for a strong will by using this motif. People used this pattern wishing for an indomitable spirit to rechallenge time and time without giving up. Thanks to its dynamic design, this motif has been appreciated, especially for men\u2019s Kimono (traditional Japanese costume).<\/span><\/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

\u00a0It is challenging to judge the motifs of each Menuki, seen from the gaps of the Tsukamaki thread. As sword mountings are the decorations of Samurai\u2019s weapons, we assume a kind of weapon or Samurai-related items are designed here.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tsuba and Habaki\uff1a<\/span><\/strong>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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0We assume the motif of this Tsuba might be some equipment for a horse. One of them seems to be the Kura (\u978d, saddle), which is a device worn on the back of a horse to allow it to sit on the horse. This item is used with the Abumi (\u9419, stirrup). Abumi is a type of harness, a tool that hangs on the side of the horse and puts the foot on when riding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Horses have been around human life for a long time, not only as our food but also for transportation or carriage of luggage. In Japan, horses were thought of as vehicles for gods to be dedicated to shrines in ancient times. It is said it is the origin of Ema (\u7d75\u99ac, picture tablet used as an offering at a shrine) today. Horses had been used as a tool for rituals and festivals. After the age that Samurai appeared, wearing large armor or performing archery riding a hose became martial arts. Equestrian tactics became the pillar of military action and security activities. According to a theory, that is why the Japanese sword began to have a curve to make it suitable for slashing (the Japanese sword was straight in the beginning).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saya<\/span><\/strong>\uff1aSaya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0This Saya has swirling patterns made up of a collection of fine lines that appear to have been carved.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Authentication Paper<\/strong>: <\/span>NTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade (No. 12726)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0NTHK<\/span><\/a>, also known as NPO Nihon Touken Hozon Kai, is the oldest organization for sword authentication of Japanese swords in modern times. It was established in 1910 during the post-Samurai era. They authenticated the blade on July 21st in the 6th year of Reiwa (2024).\u00a0 The purchaser will receive this original certificate as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a PDF file<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span> for your record if you request.<\/p>\n

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Registration Number<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>Tokyo 328028<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Board of Education in Tokyo prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword. It is called Jyu Hou Touken Rui Torokusho (\u9283\u7832\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>
\n\u00a0We 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<\/strong>, USD<\/strong>, AUD<\/strong>, CAD<\/strong>, EUR<\/strong>, 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><\/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, 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