{"id":58903,"date":"2024-11-14T16:17:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T07:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=58903"},"modified":"2025-06-01T15:00:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T06:00:44","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-tanto-signed-by-fujiwara-masanobu-nbthk-hozon-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-tanto-signed-by-fujiwara-masanobu-nbthk-hozon-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Tanto Signed by Fujiwara Masanobu
NBTHK Hozon <\/span>Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Tanto Signed by Fujiwara Masanobu with NBTHK Hozon<\/span> Certificate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0This blade was signed by Fujiwara Masanobu (\u85e4\u539f\u6b63\u4fe1) in the third year of the Bunkyu era (1863: the end of the Edo period) in Iyo province (today’s Ehime prefecture), according to NBTHK appraisal. He is also known as Yoshu Yoshida Ju Fujiwara Masanobu (\u4e88\u5dde\u5409\u7530\u4f4f\u85e4\u539f\u6b63\u4fe1). Yoshu is another name for Iyo province, and Yoshida is also the area located there. Masanobu resided in this area when he forged the blade.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Also, Masanobu is thought to have served Iyo Yoshida clan, which ruled the area at that time. The Iyo Yoshida clan was a branch of the Uwajima clan, which ruled Uwa-gun in Iyo province. After the death of Date Hidemune, the first lord of the Uwajima clan, his fifth son, Munezumi, was granted 30,000 koku, which means an area producing 4.5 million kilograms of rice annually, and established the clan in 1657.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Bunkyu era was marked by peace and prosperity, and the demand for swords among Samurai was low. This sword, therefore, is a valuable example of regional craftsmanship from Iyo, and\u00a0it is possible that the descendants of Samurai living there carefully passed it down to many generations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Background History<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Japan enjoyed a relatively peaceful time from the early Edo period to the mid-Edo period (the 1600s-1760s) because of the stable economy and the powerful government run by Tokugawa Shogun. Samurai didn\u2019t have many opportunities to utilize his Katana sword in public or on battlefields during this time. Thus, they carried their swords more as a symbol of their social status. The demand for weapons decreased accordingly compared to the previous Warring state period called Sengoku Jidai (1467-1600).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0As the end of the Edo period (1764-1876) approached, the Japanese sword\u2019s role underwent a dramatic transformation. With the spread of poverty in Japan and the ensuing civil unrest, the sword became a crucial tool in maintaining public safety, a stark contrast to its symbolic role in the earlier, more peaceful periods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The mounting pressure from foreign countries to open Japanese borders, coupled with internal strife, forced the Samurai to order swords that not only served as symbols of their status but also as practical tools for survival. Many swordsmiths, including Masanobu, dedicated their efforts to forging high-quality, practical blades for their masters, preparing for the battles that seemed inevitable in those tumultuous times.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0There was a civil war between Tokugawa\u2019s military government and the new Meiji government at the end of the Edo period. That means the original owner of this Tanto might have seen the moment when Samurai\u2019s life changed forever. This blade has a strong looking and must have been practical to use in that demanding time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0This blade is appraised as a Hozon Touken <\/strong>(\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, well preserved and high quality with artistic value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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*Please keep in mind that there is small Kitae Kizu on blade. If you like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010Blade\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\nCutting Edge Length (Nagasa)<\/span>: 25.8 cm (10.1 inches)<\/strong><\/span>
\nCurvature (Sori)<\/b>: 0.2 <\/strong>cm (0.07 inches)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Hamon<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\nThe crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process.<\/strong>
\nJimon (Jihada)<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span>
\nVisible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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

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

\u00a0A single curved line is engraved on this Fuchi-Kashira.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0The motif of this Menuki is likely a knife, which is called Nakiri bocho (\u83dc\u5207\u308a\u5305\u4e01, vegetable knife).\u00a0One theory says that kitchen knives developed from Japanese swords. Early kitchen knives were like long, slender swords with long bundles like Japanese swords. In the Edo period (1603-1867), it is said that the shape gradually changed to one in which the blade was wider and the edge of the blade was not pointed but square.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tsuba and Habaki<\/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

\u00a0This Tsuba has a Yotsu-Mokkou (\u56db\u30c4\u6728\u74dc) shape, which is a circular design with indentations along the edges. It is also made of iron, which makes it strong and durable. Also, this Tsuba might be categorized as Hamidashi Tsuba (\u55b0\u51fa\u9354), which refers to a small Tsuba that slightly protrudes, written in Hamidasu (\u55b0\u307f\u51fa\u3059) in Japanese, from the Seppa (\u5207\u7fbd, \u00a0the hole opened in the middle of Tsuba to put sword). This type of Tsuba is often attached to short swords called Tanto and small Wakizashi. Some Tsuba, as seen here, has a large U-shape cut into them.<\/span>
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Kozuka<\/span>:\u00a0<\/strong>Kozuka is a small knife stored in Kozuka Hitsu(groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword).<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0The motif of this Kozuka seems to be Ikebana (\u751f\u3051\u82b1, flower arrangement) being arranged in a bamboo vessel. It is said that bamboo has been used as a container for Ikebana because of its easy availability and simplicity. The origin of Ikebana is generally said to have come from the custom of offering flowers to the Buddha, which came with Buddhism from China. It is also said that since the Muromachi period (around the 14th century), flowers have been arranged according to a set of rules with the intention of making them look more beautiful. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The flower depicted in this Kozuka might be Ume (\u6885, Japanese apricot blossom). Japanese apricot blossoms begin to bloom in winter that snow still covers its tree so that people thought this flower tells the arrival of spring. Same as cherry blossom, it has been appreciated for a long time in Japan. People enjoy its adorable petal shape and scent, gracefully branched tree, and compose many poems. As it comes out in the cold season, it symbolizes the power of perseverance and vitality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saya<\/strong>: <\/span>Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The surface of this Saya seems to be decorated with the Ishime-Ji (\u77f3\u76ee\u5730) or Ishime-Nuri (\u77f3\u76ee\u5857). Its base was hit by Tagane (\u93e8, chisel for metalworking), and it makes a rough surface that seems stone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Authentication Paper<\/strong>: <\/span>NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the blade (No.3015117)<\/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 March 24th in the 29th year of Heisei (2017). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade 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<\/span><\/strong>: Fukuoka 60170<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Board of Education in Fukuoka prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword. It is called Jyu Hou Token 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.
\n\u00a0The 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.
\n\u00a0This 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><\/span><\/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.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\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, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Belgium, France, Finland, UK<\/a>,<\/span><\/span>Hong Kong, Australia<\/a><\/span><\/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

* If you live in the UK and like to purchase an authentic Japanese sword, please contact us first and 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