{"id":70459,"date":"2025-06-22T16:38:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T07:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=70459"},"modified":"2025-07-09T17:54:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T08:54:24","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-wakizashi-attributed-to-udanbthk-kicho-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-wakizashi-attributed-to-udanbthk-kicho-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi attributed to Uda
NBTHK Kicho Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi attributed to Uda with NBTHK Kicho Certificate<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0This blade is attributed to the Uda school by the NBTHK (Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords), which issued the authentication certificate. Although the certificate does not specify the exact forging date, the blade is appraised as Shinto period (approx. 1596\u20131771). <\/span>The Uda school is a distinguished swordsmith lineage that originated in the late Kamakura period and flourished through the Nanbokucho to mid-Muromachi periods (approx. 1334\u20131491), continuing into the Edo period, as seen with this example.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The school was founded by Kunimitsu (\u56fd\u5149), who moved from Uda District in Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture) to Etchu Province (modern-day Toyama Prefecture) in the late Kamakura period, accompanied by his apprentices such as Kunifusa (\u56fd\u623f) and Kunimune (\u56fd\u5b97).<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0The Uda school became widely known for forging practical and durable blades, which were highly valued during the turbulent Nanbokucho and Muromachi periods\u2014a time when Japan was divided between rival imperial courts and marked by constant warfare. During this era, extra-long swords became popular among warriors. While this blade may not appear long now, the shape of the tang (nakago) suggests it was originally much longer and has been shortened (suriage) multiple times over the centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Blades from the Uda school are generally categorized into two groups: Ko-Uda (Old Uda) and Uda. Ko-Uda works were forged during the late Kamakura to Nanbokucho periods, while Uda works were made in the Muromachi period and beyond. This particular blade is classified as a Uda piece from the later phase of the school’s history.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0*Please keep in mind that there are a couple of noticeable Kitae Kizu spots. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u3010 Blade\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\nCutting Edge Length(Nagasa)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a49.2 cm( 19.3 inches)<\/strong><\/span>
\nCurvature(Sori)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a 1.2 cm( 0.47 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>: <\/span>Kissaki is the tip\u00a0of the Japanese sword.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Nakago<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 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.<\/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

\u00a0The arabesque (\u5510\u8349, Karakusa) pattern is depicted on this Fuchi-Kashira. The 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. 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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Tsuka 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 appears to be a dragon (\u9f8d, Ry\u016b). In Japanese culture, the dragon is a powerful mythical creature that symbolizes strength, protection, wisdom, and good fortune. Unlike the fearsome dragons of Western mythology, the Japanese dragon is often viewed as a benevolent guardian, associated with water, rain, and rivers, and revered as a divine being.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The dragon is also a traditional auspicious symbol, believed to bring prosperity and ward off evil. In sword fittings, the dragon motif was popular among samurai, as it represented both power in battle and spiritual strength. Additionally, the character for \u201cdragon\u201d (\u9f8d) itself holds deep cultural and mystical significance in East Asia, often linked to imperial authority and eternal vitality.<\/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

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Kozuka<\/strong><\/strong>\uff1aKozuka is a small knife stored in Kozuka Hitsu(groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword).\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The Kozuka (\u5c0f\u67c4) is often stored at the other side of the scabbard.<\/p>\n

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

The saya (scabbard) is also decorated with a dragon motif, creating a cohesive and unified design throughout the entire piece.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Authentication Paper<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNBTHK Kicho Certificate for the blade (No. 229560)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0NBTHK<\/a><\/span><\/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 November 20th in the 46th year of Showa (1971). They appraised it as Kicho Token, an old form of the certificate. The purchaser will receive the original certificate as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a PDF file<\/span><\/a><\/span> for your record if you request.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Authentication Paper<\/strong>: <\/span>NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate for Koshirae (No. 1154)<\/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 sword mounting on November 21st in the 46th year of Showa (1971) . They appraised it as Tokubetsu Kicho Tosougu an old form of the certificate. 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>Hyogo 67227<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 The Board of Education in Hyogo 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.
\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