{"id":76865,"date":"2025-10-09T16:09:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T07:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=76865"},"modified":"2026-03-08T10:44:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T01:44:19","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-takada-muneyukinbthk-tokubetsu-kichou-certificate","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-takada-muneyukinbthk-tokubetsu-kichou-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Takada Muneyuki
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kichou Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Takada Muneyuki with Tokubetsu Kichou<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Certificate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0This blade is attributed to Takada Muneyuki (\u9ad8\u7530\u7d71\u884c), a swordsmith of the prestigious Takada school (\u9ad8\u7530\u6d3e). The name Muneyuki was used by three generations of smiths who were active from the Tensh\u014d to Meireki eras (1573\u20131658). As confirmed over the phone with the NBTHK, this work is attributed to either the second- or third-generation Muneyuki, active during the early to mid-Edo period (17th\u201318th century).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Takada school was founded by Takada Tomoyuki (\u9ad8\u7530\u53cb\u884c) in Takada village, located in the Bungo domain (present-day \u014cita Prefecture) during the Nanbokuch\u014d period (1334\u20131338). Tomoyuki traveled to Bizen province (today\u2019s Okayama Prefecture) to study the renowned sword-forging techniques of the Bizen tradition and, upon returning to Bungo, established his own school and trained many apprentices.<\/span>
This marked the beginning of the Takada tradition, which became one of Kyushu\u2019s most productive and respected sword-forging centers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0During the Sengoku period (the Warring States period, late 15th to late 16th century), the Takada school produced a large number of swords for samurai throughout Kyushu island. The blades forged by this school were highly valued for their reliability and sharpness\u2014so much so that their reputation was said to rival those of the Mino and Bizen schools, two of Japan\u2019s most celebrated sword-making traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0At that time, the Bungo domain was governed by \u014ctomo Yoshishige (\u5927\u53cb\u7fa9\u93ae, also known as S\u014drin), a prominent Christian warlord and one of Kyushu\u2019s most powerful figures. Under his rule, the region prospered militarily and politically.<\/span>
It is said that the Takada swordsmiths made blades for samurai who served the \u014ctomo clan, and that the first-generation Muneyuki received the character \u201c\u7d71\u201d (Mune) of his maker\u2019s name directly from the \u014ctomo family. This symbolic gift represents the close relationship between the clan and the Takada school. <\/span>Muneyuki\u2019s craftsmanship and leadership helped establish Takada as a key sword-making center during the early Edo period.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0In general, Kyushu thrived as a sword-producing region due to its long history of trade with continental Asia. The constant conflicts among feudal lords over trading rights increased the demand for fine weapons, and the Takada smiths were among the most sought-after in the region. <\/span>The Takada school also benefited from its geographical advantage and rich natural resources. The surrounding Sobo-Katamuki mountain range (\u7956\u6bcd\u50be\u5c71\u5730) provided abundant iron sand (satetsu) and charcoal, essential materials for swordsmithing.<\/span><\/p>\n

*Please keep in mind that there is a couple of black rust on the tip of the sword as well as tiny chips on the tip and a part of the blade. If you like to know more detailed condition, please feel free to contact us.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u3010 Blade\u3011<\/span><\/strong>
\nCutting Edge Length(Nagasa)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a104.0 cm (40.9 inches)<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span>Curvature(Sori)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a2.2 cm (0.86 inches)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

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

\"\" \"\"
\n\"\" \"\"
\n\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Kissaki<\/strong>\uff1a<\/span><\/span>Kissaki is the tip\u00a0of the Japanese sword.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\"\"<\/p>\n

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

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 Fuchi-Kashira also features a peony motif, similar to the Tsuba. The material is likewise presumed to be silver.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Tsuka and Menuki<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aTsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0This large pair of Menuki depicts the theme of \u201cThe Spider\u2019s Thread(\u8718\u86db\u306e\u7cf8).\u201d <\/em>\u00a0At the center, an oni (\u9b3c, demon) is shown holding a golden club (\u91d1\u68d2, kanab\u014d) entangled in spider silk, symbolizing the thin yet powerful thread that connects heaven and hell.\u00a0 The motif draws inspiration from the Buddhist tale of salvation known in Japan as \u201cKumo no Ito\u201d (The Spider\u2019s Thread) by Ry\u016bnosuke Akutagawa. Interestingly, Akutagawa\u2019s story itself was inspired by \u201cThe Wheel of Karma,\u201d a short story by Paul Carus, an American writer and philosopher whose works introduced Buddhist thought to the West. In both versions, the Buddha lowers a spider\u2019s thread into hell, offering a single sinner a chance at redemption \u2014 a profound reflection on compassion and human ego.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

Tsuba and Habaki<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aTsuba 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<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0This large Tsuba, which appears to be made of silver, features motifs of peony (\u7261\u4e39).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The peony represents happiness, wealth, nobility, and gorgeousness. This flower pattern has long been regarded as an auspicious motif, symbolizing prosperity and a rich harvest. In Japanese, the peony is called \u201cBotan.\u201d The second character in its Japanese name (\u4e39) originally refers to the \u201celixir of immortality\u201d used by mountain hermits in ancient times. Because of this association, the peony motif also carries the meaning of eternal youth and longevity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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

\u00a0This scabbard is covered with black lacquer. Due to its high waterproof effect, lacquer has been used since ancient times in Asia. The blade of a Japanese sword is made of iron, and moisture is the greatest enemy of iron. For the purpose of carrying the blade without degrading it, people devised a method of coating the scabbard with lacquer. To prevent not only moisture but also rain and snow from penetrating the inside of the scabbard, it was necessary to apply multiple layers of lacquer. The Nushi (\u5857\u5e2b, lacquerers) was born precisely because advanced techniques were required to handle the complicated processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Authentication Paper<\/strong><\/span>\uff1aNBTHK TOKUBETSU KICHOU Certificate for the blade (No. 270337)<\/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 February 25th in the 48th year of Showa (1973). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Kichou Touken, 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><\/span> for your record if you request.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Registration Number : <\/span>Gifu 42533<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Board of Education in Gifu 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

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

—————————————————————–<\/p>\n

\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

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\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.
\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

\"\"<\/p>\n

* 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, 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

\"\"<\/p>\n

\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