{"id":68473,"date":"2025-10-01T09:42:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T00:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=68473"},"modified":"2026-03-20T23:35:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:35:09","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-den-bishu-osafune-sukesada-nthk-kanteisho-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-den-bishu-osafune-sukesada-nthk-kanteisho-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Katana attributed to Den Bishu Osafune Sukesada
NTHK Kanteisho for the blade"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Katana attributed to Den Bishu Osafune Sukesada\u00a0with NTHK Kanteisho for the blade\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0This blade is attributed to Den Bishu Osafune Sukesada (\u4f1d\u5099\u5dde\u9577\u8239\u7950\u5b9a) in the Tensho era (1573-1592: Azuchi Momoyama period<\/strong>). \u00a0Bishu\uff08\u5099\u5dde\uff09is a larger area in today\u2019s Okayama\uff06Hiroshima prefecture. Bishu consists of Bizen(\u5099\u524d), Bitchu\uff08\u5099\u4e2d\uff09 and Bingo (\u5099\u5f8c). Osafune is the school\u2019s name located in Bizen province. Sukesada is his maker\u2019s name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Those who forged swords in the Bizen province(Okayama prefecture) at the end of the Muromachi Period(1492-1569 A.D) are called Matsu Bizen(Matsu means the end). Sukesada school was one of the most famous schools, and it flourished for generations among Osafune schools(The head branch). There were various styles forged by the generations of Sukesada during this period. Approximately 60 swordsmiths used Sukesada as his maker\u2019s name in the Samurai history. In that sense, the swordsmith\u2019s name \u201cSukesada\u201d worked as a kind of brand that attracted many Samurai.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0The swordsmiths in Bizen produced many swords during the Muromachi period as it was in the middle of the Sengoku period(Warring state period). The demand for weapons increased among strong feudal lords. It would be nice to have a piece forged in the warring state period when there was so much rivalry between warlords. It was possible that this blade was ordered by a high-class Samurai and he might have carried it in a battlefield.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0BIZEN is located near the Chugoku Mountains, where iron sands, one of the essential materials for making Japanese swords, were abundant. Furthermore, BIZEN swordsmiths had close access to Yoshi River, where they could find water and charcoal. This geological location contributed to the swordsmiths to forge high-quality refined blades. We presume BIZEN was quite active in sword-forging from ancient times. It is said that BIZEN DEN was created by groups of swordsmiths there after the late Heian era(Late 12th century ).<\/span><\/p>\n

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*Please keep in mind that that there are a few noticeable 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<\/span><\/strong>
\nCutting Edge Length(Nagasa)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a71.1 cm (27.9 inches)<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span>Curvature(Sori)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a1.5 cm (0.59 inches)<\/strong><\/span><\/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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Kissaki<\/strong>\uff1a<\/span><\/span>Kissaki is the tip\u00a0of the Japanese sword.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nakago<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNakago 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><\/strong>:\u00a0Koshirae 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><\/strong>:\u00a0A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The theme of this Fuchi-Kashira is the Aoi-Karakusa (\u8475\u5510\u8349). Aoi (Asarum caulescens, \u8475) is a plant pattern in which each stem branches and has characteristic heart-shaped leaves. As its leaves have a habit of always facing the sun, and the word \u201cAoi\u201d is taken as \u201cAogu (\u4ef0\u3050, looking up)\u201d for the sun, people thought the Aoi pattern would bring good fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Karakusa (Arabesque) is a pattern 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. Vine is called Tsuru (\u8513) in Japanese, and it has another pronunciation; \u201cMan.\u201d There is a word \u4e07 (it is also read Man), which means ten thousand. In the Karakusa pattern, leaves and vines are connected like Obi (\u5e2f, belt). The word \u201c\u5e2f\u201d can also be read \u201cTai.\u201d Due to its pronunciation, the term \u201c\u4ee3 (Tai)\u201d is associated. From this word-association game, an idiom \u4e07\u4ee3 is associated, and it means a thousand generations. In other words, we could imagine that people used this design wishing prosperity and longevity for their clans for a long time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Thus, the Aoi-Karakusa pattern, which combines the motifs of these plants that were mentioned above, has long been cherished in Japan as a symbol of good fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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Tsuba and Menuki<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0This menuki features a dragon (\u9f8d, ry\u016b), a mythical creature that originated in ancient Chinese legends and mythology. Dragons have long been regarded as auspicious beasts, symbolizing power, good fortune, and divine authority.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0According to traditional Chinese beliefs, the dragon\u2019s body is said to combine features of nine different animals: antlers of a deer, the head of a camel, eyes of a demon, the neck of a snake, the belly of a mizuchi (a legendary Japanese water creature with horns and legs), scales of a fish, claws of a hawk, palms of a tiger, and ears of an ox. Because of this extraordinary and mysterious appearance, the dragon was considered to reign supreme among all creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0In ancient China, dragon motifs were strictly reserved for the emperor, with precise rules governing their depiction\u2014even down to the number of claws. In contrast, in Japan, dragons were not tied to social class and could be used more freely in decorative arts. Nevertheless, the dragon has consistently been viewed as an all-purpose auspicious symbol.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0In Japan, dragons are also revered as water deities, a belief known as Ry\u016bjin Shink\u014d (\u7adc\u795e\u4fe1\u4ef0). As water has always been vital for rice cultivation, the dragon has long been associated with rain, rivers, and agricultural blessings. For this reason, the dragon motif has remained deeply familiar and culturally significant in Japan since ancient times.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tsuba and Habaki<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0Tsuba 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 features the <\/span>heart-shaped openings can be seen at the four corners of the tsuba. These are called inoshime (\u732a\u306e\u76ee), a traditional Japanese design element resembling a boar\u2019s eye. The inoshime motif has long been used in architecture and sword fittings as a symbol of protection and good fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saya<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Authentication Paper<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNTHK Kanteisho Certificate for the blade (No.13344)<\/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 20th in the 7th year of Reiwa (2025). 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>Kanagawa 82119<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Board of Education in Kanagawa 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.
\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 1300 Japanese swords for the past few years (\uff5e2026) 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, 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