7 Points to Consider when Choosing Your Japanese Sword

Written and compiled by Pablo Kuntz
Founder of Unique Japan
Latest Update: May 14, 2015

Preface: Owning a Japanese Samurai Sword

Many Great Questions

Your Personal Connection to Japan

Purity and Perfection

A Symbol of the Modern-Day Warrior

Japanese Swords, it’s ALL in the Details.

Each sword has it’s own unique personality.
Just as everyone has a unique mission in his or her own life.

Forever Lasting Memories

Point 1: THE SWORD, THE SOUL OF THE SAMURAI

Swords play a central role in Japanese tradition and are widely admired for their elegance, beauty, technical excellence and spiritual qualities.

In Shinto, the Shintai or ‘Body of Kami (spirit)’ can be found in a stone, tree, river, mountain or a human made object such a sword or a mirror. A mirror reflects the light of the sun, which is revered as the highest divine power for the sensible reason that it is the source of all life on the planet.

Swords are frequently used as objects of spiritual healing as their power and beauty make them ‘yorishiro’, objects that by their very nature attract a sacred energy.

As Michihiro Tanobe, former Senior Managing Director of the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword (NBTHK) writes:

“The Japanese people have traditionally expected objects to have artistic beauty in addition to practical excellence and the pursuit of beauty in all spheres of activity has always been inherent in their nature.
Iron is a material with a shiny and cold quality but the Japanese were able to give it life and make it bloom as an artistic object.”

Gaining an understanding of who the fearless Samurai were and what their sword represented to them is of vital importance.

Samurai warriors were the elite of four classes of Japanese feudal society (1185-1868);

Samurai – Warrior Class
Second class – Farmers
Third class – Craftsmen
Forth class – Merchants

The term, Samurai, is a derivative of the Japanese verb for service, “saburau” (SA-BOO-RA-OH).  Samurai literally means “one who serves”, and that is how they began, SERVING AND PROTECTING the imperial family and subsequently other lords.

During the Edo Period (1600-1868), the Samurai were expected to PROTECT members of the other three classes.

Samurai were inspired by Bushido “Military-Knight-Ways” is an unwritten code of moral principles which the knights (Samurai) were required or instructed to observe.

Not merely fighters, the Samurai were also dedicated and inspired men of culture. In short, the Samurai were a class act.

Above is an Ukiyo-e woodblock print of Japanese Samurai performing and admiring Ikebana (The art of Japanese flower arrangement)

Bushido made the sword its emblem of power and spirit. The very possession of such a valuable instrument imparts to him a feeling and an air of self-respect and responsibility.   What he carries in his belt is a symbol of what he carries in his mind and heart – loyalty and honour.

The term 士道 Shido means “The Way of the Samurai.” The ultimate warriors’ code of honor, the Way of the Samurai is to “protect your truth.” Never betray yourself. A Samurai would choose death over living with an untrue heart. **

Often, the second son was born into a life of warfare, as the first son was needed to take care of the family household. As part of his training, a Samurai warrior considered it “his foremost concern to keep death in mind at all times.” Doing so, will fulfill the ways of loyalty and familial duty.

A true Samurai was never loud, boastful or a braggart. This type of character was reserved for those of lower stature. A Samurai was modest, independent and appreciated the beauty of life. A quiet character perhaps; certainly one with a silent intensity unlike any other.

Their sword embodied such commitment, a legacy, a vessel for their enduring soul.

Perhaps most significantly, the Samurai lived for the day, for this very moment.

As Tokugawa Ieyasu (founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan in the early 17th century) famously said, “The Sword is the Soul of the Samurai.“

Point 2: TYPE OF SWORDS

The western world is generally familiar with the long katana that one sees in movies and books. However, the Samurai had more types of swords at his disposal.   Let’s now explore these fascinating types of swords:

THE TACHI

Generally speaking, tachi swords are long, quite curvy and light. This made it easier to draw from the scabbard when riding. Tachi should always be displayed with the blade down, as if it is smiling.

THE KATANA

By placing the edge up in the scabbard, the Samurai warrior is able to draw his katana to cut downwards towards his opponent in one dramatically smooth and quick motion. In movies, Samurai duels tend to be long drawn-out and fantastically orchestrated events. In reality a Samurai sword duel was most often over in an instant.

THE WAKIZASHI

The wakizashi (side or companion sword) was the shorter of the two swords, worn at all times by the Samurai. In contrast, the katana was usually only carried outdoors due to it’s length – basically it was too cumbersome to have a long katana slung indoors.

I am personally rather fond of the wakizashi. As the Samurai always carried the sword, one could argue that it is more symbolic of his spirit. In the instance that the Samurai decided to commit seppuku (or ritual suicide), it was the wakizashi that he turned to.

THE TANTO

Historically speaking, a tanto is a dagger carried by men and women of the Samurai class in Japan.   Due to it’s size and ability to be concealed, it was a useful weapon for in close quarters when a long katana or slightly shorter wakizashi would not suffice.

THE NAGINATA

Benkei, the legendary huge and loyal warrior monk from the 12th century carried a Naginata.   He is most famous for posting himself at a bridge in Kyoto and defeating 999 Samurai and collecting their swords.  The 1000th warrior he faced was Minamoto Yoshitsune who defeated him.   Benkei then became one of Minamoto’s most trusted warriors and eventually died in battle under his service.

Point 3: WHEN IT WAS MADE

1000 Years of Curvature…

How amazing is that? It’s worth repeating. With just a little bit of study, you can pick up any Japanese sword, examine the way it is curved and can make an educated guess if it’s 200 years old or 700 years old!

The hamon (temper line) generally has more artistic variation during this period. Shinto swords marked the beginning of the Edo period, a time of peace in Japan, so only the best smiths were able to continue business and the best of these were retained by the provincial daimyo (powerful territorial/feudal lords).

Point 4: BUDGET

Investment into an antique Japanese Samurai sword is surprisingly less than you might expect. Prices generally start at about $3,000 and can rise much higher.

Japanese swords were once more expensive in the 1980s when Japan was riding an economic miracle called the “bubble”. During this period, Japanese swords were being sold for more than 3 times the price they are now.

Then the bubble burst. And Japan has never been quite the same since the early 90s.

In my opinion, it’s only a matter of time that more people around the world will discover the beauty of the Japanese sword and the price of these prized antiques will surely rise.

This is especially true for the more sought after pieces.

In the end, a number of factors influence the final cost of the piece such as:

✓ Whether the swordsmith or school has a superior reputation

✓ Whether the sword holds interesting provenance/heritage to form an alluring story

✓ Whether the blade has achieved a particular certification ranking (more on this in Point 7)

✓ The overall condition of the blade; a more flawless piece will be more expensive (but will hold better value)

✓ Signed blades generally are more expensive than unsigned swords, but this is not always the case

✓ The period when it was made (ie. A 13th century Kamakura period sword will generally command a higher price point)

✓ The quality of the pieces that make up the koshirae mounting (if it even has a mounting, more on this subject in Point 6)

At Unique Japan, we take pride in working within most any budget range and seek to advise clients on the best investment opportunity for them.

In the end, our clients just ‘know in their heart’ when they see the right piece. There is a common saying within Samurai circles that the sword always chooses its owner.

Cash discounts and Layaway plans
Credit card companies charge us a small % for each transaction. We happily pass on this saving to our customers who settle payment in cash or direct bank wire transfer.

Our low-cost layaway plan is something I am particularly proud of. As the investment into a sword is a sizeable one, it makes a lot more sense for most clients to spread payment over a few months.

This also makes it possible for clients to afford the sword they truly desire.

Our Layaway plan offers a ’40-DAY NO INTEREST’ window with a small interest charge levied for terms of 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year.

The interest charge goes to help pay for storing, cleaning and maintaining your sword in proper condition while it’s being paid off.

Download the general terms of the layaway plan here

Point 5: THE STEEL AND ITS STRUCTURE

Few things in life are more impressive than the strength and beauty of a Japanese sword’s steel. Below are points to consider when examining the blade.

HAMON (temper line)

The hamon or ‘badge of the blade’ – is the line defining the hardened edge and the crystalline structures within it. The quenching process that decides the texture of the jihada (ground skin) is primarily intended to form the hamon.

Broadly speaking, a hamon comes in three classifications; suguha (straight) , notare (gentle wave) and midare (irregular or wild).

Like the curvature of the sword, different patterns of the hamon emerged at different time periods. It is a very personal decision where the hamon “speaks” to the admirer. More often than not, clients prefer a wavy hamon, but there is definitely much to admire in a perfectly straight suguha hamon. A word of advice is not to be too quick to judge the hamon.

EXAMPLES OF HAMON PATTERNS
From Late Heian to Early Kamakura period (1000AD ~)
“suguha” or straight temper line

From Mid-Kamakura period (1200AD ~)
“choji” or clove temper line

From Late-Kamakura period (1280AD ~)
“gunome” or wavy temper line

From Nambokucho period (1333AD ~)
“hitatsura” or full-temper line

From Early Muromachi period (1400AD ~)
“complex gunome” wavy temper line

From Early Edo period (1600AD ~)
“sudare-ba” or bamboo-strip blind temper line

JIHADA (body or skin of the sword)

While the hamon gets all the attention, looking closely to the actual body of the sword is not only important, but also fascinating.

It’s important to keep in mind that a metallurgically well-made sword will exhibit harmony between the jihada (surface skin) and the hamon. It is just not possible to have a sword with a good hamon and a poor jihada, or vice versa.

The laminations produced by the folding process during the manufacture of the blade result in a visible grain on the surface. The grain in the jigane (metal of the ground) can be one of several types, or a mixture of them.

The most widely found resembles the grain of a cut and planed piece of timber and is called itame (plank grain). A similar grain consisting of closed concentric rings is called mokume (wood grain).

Another type is called masame (true grain) which looks like a series of parallel lines, like the appearance of a log cut down the centre. More unusual formations include hitatsura (full temper) nashiji (pearskin), ayasugi (wavy adulating lines) and the famous konuka hada (rice bran), which one typically finds on swords from Hizen in Kyushu.

A word on the Swordsmith…
The swordsmith was an inspired artist and his workshop a sanctuary.   Daily he commenced his craft with prayer and purification, or as the phrase was “the swordsmith committed his soul and spirit into the forging an tempering of the steel.”

Every swing of the sledge, every plunge into water, every fiction on the grindstone, was a religious act of grand intention.

I have great admiration for swordsmiths. Above is photo taken by Jensen Walker (all rights reserved) at a forge in Chiba, Japan. It was quite the personal experience for all of us!!

NAKAGO (tang)

A sword’s tang (nakago) is never polished so as to help determine the age of the sword with decent accuracy. The nakago (tang) of koto (pre 1600) swords is thus very dark, almost black and soft in texture. The reason why the tang is so dark is because the steel has been left to rust for that much longer.

The nakago (tang) is an integral part of the whole sword, and its shape and size influence its cutting efficacy of the weapon. Since the Heian period (794-1185) when it was customary for smiths to sign their work, the tangs have been an invaluable guide to the whole history of sword-making in Japan. Name of the smith, and place and date of manufacture are found on many swords of earlier periods.

Many tangs are not signed, which is not necessarily a bad thing. In the Yamato tradition for example, finding a signed tang is likely finding the Holy Grail!

In some instances, an incredible amount of information is chiseled on the nakago.
For example, the image below reads: Kaga no Kuni Ju Tsujimura Denuemon Takahira Saku (Made by Takahira Denuemon in Kaga province).
The inside set of characters (南蛮鉄造之) reads Namban Tetsu Tsukuri (made using imported steel!)

In the Edo period, some of the best swordsmiths worked directly for powerful Daimyo (great families) and thus rarely signed the sword. Bottom line is to not dismiss a Japanese sword just because it is unsigned.

HORIMONO (Carvings and Grooves)

Horimono (groove carvings on blades) may be carved partially or wholly along the length of the finished blade, for both structural and aesthetic reasons. Pictorial carvings and inscriptions such as the deity Fudo Myo-o can be frequently found. Of ferocious aspect of bared fangs, Fudo Myo-o’s (Fire God) unmoving aspect represents the aspiration of the Samurai to remain calm during the heat of combat and even at the instant of impending death.

A common misconception is that a long “blood groove” found on a sword was solely produced to enable gasses (and blood) in the stomach to flow up or along the blade to ease it’s removal from a body.

While there may be ‘some’ truth this, the primary reason for having a groove helps to make the sword lighter and cut stronger as it takes on the cross-section shape and characteristics of an i-beam.

Point 6: SWORD MOUNTINGS (KOSHIRAE)

The image of a Japanese sword normally conjures up an image of a strikingly beautiful koshirae (mounting).

A koshirae (mountings) comprises of several handmade ornamental pieces that bring enormous character to the sword. The main pieces are a tsuba (guard), the kashira (pommel), the menuki (eye drawers on the hilt under the silk thread).

Just like the hamon, a swords koshirae tends to “speak” to the prospective owner. Whether the sword is ‘right’ or not is normally known in an instant.

“Many swords in existence today, including many valuable swords, are housed in a simple traditional shirasaya (white scabbard) and NOT in koshirae. Our clients sometimes are disappointed when a sword is not housed in a full koshirae, but the shirasaya is a like a humidor for an expensive cigar – it better preserves the steel as the magnolia wood absorbs fluid that might damage the steel.”

Think of the koshirae as daytime clothing and the shirasaya as the sword’s pajamas. The Samurai would remove the sword’s koshirae at night and house it in its shirasaya. In the morning, the Samurai would then place the koshirae. Even the Samurai was not impenetrable to fashion and would have many koshirae for a particular sword.

Build your Own Custom Made Koshirae!

A highly recommended project that many of our customers undertake it to invest in a quality sword in a shirasaya scabbard and then we produce a custom koshirae for them.

For this process, modern-day craftsmen and women using traditional methods of koshirae making will produce all the necessary parts of the koshirae.

Some elements such as the tsuba, menuki, and fuchi-kashira can be from the Edo period, so the end result is a wonderful blend of modern craftsmanship meeting traditional pieces that are hundreds of years old. Since the project is catered to our customers’ taste, a strong PERSONAL CONNECTION always gets delivered. It’s a wonderful adventure.

Click here to view a stunningly beautiful example of a modern custom koshirae with a tsuba, menuki and kashira all from the Edo period

Point 7: NBTHK and NTHK-NPO CERTIFICATION PAPERS

Some Japanese swords have been certified by Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK, Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), or NTHK-NPO (Nihon Token Hozon Kai) both of which are trusted organizations responsible for screening and certifying judgement onto Japanese swords.

Certified swords are generally more expensive, but they offer a certain piece of mind. However, it’s VERY important that one doesn’t get too hung up if a sword is certified or not. A sword that is not certified does NOT at all imply that the sword is not genuine.

ALL SWORDS purchased from Unique Japan are guaranteed to be authentic. And EVERY piece, whether certified or not, has been legally registered with Japan’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs (which is, in a sense, an act of certification).

At the end of the day, certification from any organization is still only an opinion and the certification process does take time and money. Many experienced and knowledgeable sword collectors never feel a need to get their sword certified.

I’ve written two articles on this subject matter here that you may find to be helpful.
→ NBTHK Certification Paper Ranking for Japanese Swords
→ NTHK-NPO Certification Paper Ranking for Japanese Swords

Next Steps

I hope you found this article helpful, and I thank you for taking the time to read it through. If owning a genuine Japanese Samurai sword is of interest to you and your family, we would be honoured to serve you.

To visitors in Japan…

If you have the pleasure of living in Japan or visiting the country, we recommend that you come to one of our upcoming sword shows or schedule a private VIP meeting with us.

VIP meetings are normally held near JR Ebisu station in Tokyo at a hired gallery space. We can also arrange visits to a company office, hotel, near the airport or at a private residence. We will arrange for a select number of Japanese swords that best match what your criteria.

To those exploring our collection online, be sure to download our catalogue of available swords here.

Be sure to become part of our VIP Email List as all catalogues are pre-sent to VIPs before they are released to the public.

We completely respect the fact it takes a HUGE leap of personal FAITH in us to commit to a particular sword given the reliance on photos and descriptions for such a highly valued item.

It is our PROMISE to address all your questions to the best of our ability. It’s important to us that you feel completely confident that the sword you choose (and that chooses you) is destined for you and your family.

You can also take reassurance that ALL swords from Unique Japan are GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC and come with a 3-DAY WORRY FREE inspection period upon arrival to your home.

Recent client testimonials:

Pablo excels in customer service without limit to the date the purchase was made. If you have a question or problem, he will help answer it, or provide a solution. Conducting business with Pablo, extends beyond an investment. It will carry on into many happy years of customer satisfaction and peace of mind.

When you purchase from Pablo your buying more than just a sword or knife, you’re getting peace of mind and gaining a friend and sensei in the art of samurai swords.

Jonah, Okinawa Japan

To Whom It May Concern: In the Summer of 2013 I purchased an antique samurai sword through Pablo Kuntz and Unique Japan. This letter is a testimonial to the professional work and trustworthy nature of Pablo and Unique Japan.

As a repeat customer, I have no reservations recommending Pablo and Unique Japan to anyone who is considering these products. My enthusiastic endorsement is somewhat surprising even to myself, since I have never actually met Pablo nor any of his staff at Unique Japan in person. Making these purchases was a leap of faith that has been consistently rewarded, and I look forward to conducting more business with Pablo Kuntz and Unique Japan in the future.

Unlike what I imagine most Unique Japan customers to be like, I had no experience in antique swords and little to no experience with making substantial, international purchases. Throughout the process of reviewing the inventory, deciding on a sword, and then arranging and waiting for it to be delivered, Pablo remained unwaveringly patient and professional. My endless questions and ruminations never exhausted his seemingly endless patience, and his enthusiasm and expertise were an integral part of making conducting business with him both educational and enjoyable.

MCH, Northern California USA

Legal Exportation from Japan

Yes, it is completely legal to own a genuine antique Japanese sword (even those that are several hundreds of years old). Unique Japan specialises in all proper legal compliances so that swords can be exported from Japan. All required paperwork is provided free of charge for clients.

Unique Japan has safely sent well over 200 swords FROM Japan to immensely proud owners in the United States, Canada, Europe and around the world.

Thank You!

Again, THANK YOU for visiting and please feel free to share this page with friends who might be interested in discovering Japanese swords. If you would like to get in touch, feel free to contact us at anytime.

On behalf of myself and the team at Unique Japan, we look forward to serving you.

Pablo Kuntz, Founder of Unique Japan (click link for Bio)

Photos above:
(Left) Taken at the Okinawa Sword Show
(Right) Pablo Kuntz presents an information session on Japanese swords at the CLSA Japan Forum 9 (Hyatt Hotel, Roppongi)

Here below is a video clip from my appearance on Discovery Channel’s new TV series “Dealers”, where I presented two antique Samurai swords.

Above: In early 2014 I was approached by NHK Enterprises in Japan to take part in a 50-minute documentary on the fine art of Japanese sword polishing. A craft that truly deserves greater appreciation. I met renowned sword polisher Sasaki-sensei and his skilled apprentices, specifically Yuichi-san who worked hard on a beautiful Yasusada wakizashi that I submitted for polishing. The documentary was aired online globally on Sunday August 24th, 2014.

Reference Material
* “Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum” by Victor Harris.
** The Samurai Sword by Kohshyu Yoshida
*** Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

Popular Pages of Interest

→ 7 Points to Consider when Choosing your Japanese Sword
→ 5 Steps to Owning an Authentic Japanese Samurai Sword
→ Download catalogue of currently available Japanese swords
→ PARTS of a Japanese Sword and Mountings (High-quality images)
→ 7 reasons WHY I love Japanese swords
→ Resource Information on Japanese Swords
→ NBTHK Certification Paper Ranking for Japanese Swords
→ NTHK-NPO Certification Paper Ranking for Japanese Swords