{"id":87615,"date":"2026-05-03T12:20:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T03:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/?post_type=product&p=87615"},"modified":"2026-05-05T16:14:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T07:14:26","slug":"antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-den-inaba-toshishige-nthk-kanteisho-for-the-blade","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.samuraimuseum.jp\/shop\/product\/antique-japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-den-inaba-toshishige-nthk-kanteisho-for-the-blade\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Japanese Sword Katana attributed to Den Inaba Toshishige
NTHK Kanteisho for the blade"},"content":{"rendered":"

Antique Japanese Sword Katana attributed to Den Inaba Toshishige with NTHK Kanteisho for the blade <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0This blade is attributed to Den Inaba Toshishige (\u4f1d\u56e0\u5e61\u5bff\u8302), and is estimated to have been made during the Bunky\u016b era (1861\u20131864), according to the certification by the NTHK<\/span><\/span> (Nihon T\u014dken Hozon Kai). Toshishige belonged to Hamabe school in Inaba province (today’s Tottori prefecture).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The founder of the school, Hamabe Toshinori (\u6d5c\u90e8\u5bff\u683c), was born in 1746 in Tottori prefecture. He first learned sword forging techniques from Hioki Kanesaki in Tottori prefecture. And he also went to Edo city twice during 1781-1800 to study sword making under different masters. He stayed in Bizen Osafune as well to master Bizen Den from Sukesada.
\nWhen he was 41 years old, he received the title of Mino no kami and changed his maker\u2019s name to Toshinori. Then, he worked for the Tottori clan. His school had a lot of apprentices, including Toshishige, and his fame and achievements are well-known even today among Japanese sword connoisseurs. It is said that Toshishige was either the brother or relative of Hamabe Toshiyuki, the third-gen head of the school.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The Bunky\u016b era falls within the late Edo period, a time of great political unrest and transition in Japan, often referred to as the Bakumatsu period (\u5e55\u672b). During this time, the Tokugawa shogunate was weakening, and conflicts between pro-imperial and pro-shogunate factions were intensifying. As a result, swords were not only weapons but also powerful symbols of status, loyalty, and identity for the samurai class.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cInaba\u201d (\u56e0\u5e61) refers to a historical province located in the eastern part of today’s Tottori Prefecture. This region, while not as widely known as major sword-producing centers such as Bizen or Seki, had its own local tradition of swordsmithing, often influenced by surrounding schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

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*Please keep in mind that that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu and black rust 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>\uff1a69.1 cm (27.2 inches)<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span>Curvature(Sori)<\/span><\/strong>\uff1a1.2 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>\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

\u00a0This fuchi-kashira features a horse (\u99ac, Uma) design. For samurai, the horse was not only an essential companion in battle but also held significant cultural meaning in Japan. The horse symbolizes strength, nobility, and loyalty, reflecting qualities that were highly valued by the samurai. In Japanese culture, the horse is also seen as a symbol of grace, freedom, and connection to nature, often appearing in various forms of art and tradition.<\/span><\/p>\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 horse motif, matching the design of the fuchi-kashira.<\/span><\/p>\n

*Please keep in mind that there are some noticeable stain on the Tsuka Ito (thread on the handle).<\/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 is mokk\u014d-shaped (\u6728\u74dc\u578b, mokko-gata), a form resembling a cross-section of a gourd or the Japanese quince flower, which was a popular shape for sword guards from the Muromachi through the Edo period(15th\u201319th centuries).\u00a0\u00a0<\/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.13680)<\/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 March 15th in the 8th year of Reiwa (2026). 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 54587<\/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