{"id":67910,"date":"2025-05-10T11:43:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T02:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=67910"},"modified":"2026-03-04T13:55:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T04:55:45","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-tanto-chousonnbthk-hozon-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-tanto-chousonnbthk-hozon-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Tanto Chouson
NBTHK Hozon <\/span>Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Tanto signed by Chouson with NBTHK Hozon<\/span> Certificate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Summary<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0This blade was signed by Chouson in November 1839 in Tosa province (today’s Kouchi prefecture).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Chouson was born around 1805 or 1806 in Tosa province, and his original name was Morioka Zenemon (\u76db\u5ca1\u5584\u53f3\u885b\u9580). As a swordsmith, he is known as Nankai Taro Chouson (\u5357\u6d77\u592a\u90ce\u671d\u5c0a). He first worked as a blacksmith making large saws, following his father\u2019s trade. However, he had a strong interest in studying swords. He divorced his wife, who opposed his passion, and became a swordsmith in 1818. After that, he studied sword-making under Iganokami Kanemichi (\u4f0a\u8cc0\u5b88\u91d1\u9053) in Kyoto and Suishinshi Masahide (\u6c34\u5fc3\u5b50\u6b63\u79c0) in Edo.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0From 1831 to 1845, he started working as a swordsmith in Edo. Later, he received sword orders from many areas such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Tosa. It is said that he spent his final years in a town called Kita-Iwakura in Kyoto.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Chouson welcomed many students. He supported the “Revival of Traditional Sword-making (\u5200\u5263\u5fa9\u53e4\u8ad6)” idea taught by his master Suishinshi Masahide, and he passed on practical sword-forging techniques based on this idea to his students. He also wrote books explaining Japanese swords, such as T\u014dken Gogy\u014dron<\/em> (\u5200\u5263\u4e94\u884c\u8ad6, Five Elements Theory of Swords), Shint\u014d Meish\u016broku <\/em>(\u65b0\u5200\u9298\u96c6\u9332, Collection of Modern Sword Signatures), and H\u014dken Kidan<\/em> (\u5b9d\u5263\u5947\u8ac7, Strange Tales of Treasured Swords).<\/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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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*Please keep in mind that there are a few visisble Kitae Kizu on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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\u3010Blade\u3011<\/strong><\/span>
\nCutting Edge Length (Nagasa)<\/span>: 16.4 cm (6.29 inches)<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nCurvature (Sori)<\/b><\/span>: 0 cm (0 inches)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

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

\u00a0The theme of this Menuki is the plover (\u5343\u9ce5, Chidori). The plover pattern is used as a prayer. The Japanese name of the plover, Chidori, was associated with the word Chidori (\u5343\u53d6\u308a, which literally means get a thousand). Therefore, its design contains prayers for victory and wishes for goal achievement.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kougai: Kougai is the equipment for Samurai to arrange or fix his hair style.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0You would find a botanical pattern with vines. We believe it is a kind of the Karakusa (\u5510\u8349, arabesque) pattern called the Hana Karakusa (\u82b1\u5510\u8349) design. There are many patterns that combine flowers and Karakusas. Botan Karakusa (\u7261\u4e39\u5510\u8349, peony and Karakusa), Kiku Karakusa (\u83ca\u5510\u8349, chrysanthemum and Karakusa), and Hasu Karakusa (\u84ee\u5510\u8349, lotus and Karakusa) are famous. Some patterns are closely related to religion and frequently appear in Buddhism. We think the Kiku Karakusa pattern is incorporated into this vase.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Karakusa pattern is a design in which stems and leaves of vines are twined and make curves. Since ivy has a strong vitality and grows up without interruption, people regarded this design as a symbol of prosperity and longevity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0A long time ago, chrysanthemums were used as a medicine for obtaining a long life on the continent, and it was brought to Japan with this thought in the Nara period (648-781). The chrysanthemum symbolizes fall, and people have greatly appreciated it since ancient times. This flower has been likened to the sun as its petals form radially. That is why this flower pattern is treated as the symbol of perpetual youth and longevity or good health. Such auspicious meanings might have inspired this work\u2019s design.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Also, if\u00a0 you focus on the bottom, you will find a heart mark-shaped hole is engraved. It is called the Inome (\u732a\u306e\u76ee) pattern. The Inome pattern has been used since ancient times. As its name implies, the boar\u2019s eyes are the origin of this pattern. Some people believed the Inome design would work as an amulet to protect them from evil spirits or fire. Also, it is said it would bring good luck.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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Authentication Paper<\/span><\/strong>: NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the blade (No.377390)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

NBTHK<\/span><\/a>,<\/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 June 29th in the 19th year of Heisei (2007). 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<\/a>\u00a0for your record if you request.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Registration Number<\/span><\/strong>: Fukushima 21391<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Board of Education in Fukushima 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 1000 Japanese swords for the past few years (\uff5e2025) 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