Nihonto Blog
Japanese Sword History Guide: Periods, Schools,...
Quick Summary A Kamakura-period tachi and an Edo-period katana can look nearly identical to someone who has never handled a real nihonto. The price gap between them can be $100,000....
Japanese Sword History Guide: Periods, Schools,...
Quick Summary A Kamakura-period tachi and an Edo-period katana can look nearly identical to someone who has never handled a real nihonto. The price gap between them can be $100,000....
How to Buy an Authentic Japanese Sword: The Com...
Quick Summary Roughly 90% of swords sold online as "authentic Japanese swords" or "real katana" are factory-manufactured replicas from China or Pakistan with no collectible value, no legal connection to...
How to Buy an Authentic Japanese Sword: The Com...
Quick Summary Roughly 90% of swords sold online as "authentic Japanese swords" or "real katana" are factory-manufactured replicas from China or Pakistan with no collectible value, no legal connection to...
Ubu Nakago vs Suriage | Tokyo Nihonto
If you are comparing ubu nakago vs suriage, you are looking at one of the biggest value drivers in the nihonto market. Buyers often focus on length, polish, and papers...
Ubu Nakago vs Suriage | Tokyo Nihonto
If you are comparing ubu nakago vs suriage, you are looking at one of the biggest value drivers in the nihonto market. Buyers often focus on length, polish, and papers...
What Is a Mumei Blade? The Counter-Intuitive Gu...
An unsigned (mumei) katana can outvalue a signed one. Learn why NBTHK attributes mumei blades, when to buy, and what serious collectors look for in 2026.
What Is a Mumei Blade? The Counter-Intuitive Gu...
An unsigned (mumei) katana can outvalue a signed one. Learn why NBTHK attributes mumei blades, when to buy, and what serious collectors look for in 2026.
Japanese Swordsmiths Today: Who Still Forges Ni...
Quick Summary Japanese swordsmiths today still forge real nihonto, but the field is tiny. Japan has roughly 300 licensed swordsmiths, and each is legally capped at 24 blades per year,...
Japanese Swordsmiths Today: Who Still Forges Ni...
Quick Summary Japanese swordsmiths today still forge real nihonto, but the field is tiny. Japan has roughly 300 licensed swordsmiths, and each is legally capped at 24 blades per year,...
Mumei Nihonto Buyer's Guide
Quick Summary A mumei nihonto can be an excellent buy when the blade itself is healthy, the workmanship is clear, and current NBTHK Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon papers give you...
Mumei Nihonto Buyer's Guide
Quick Summary A mumei nihonto can be an excellent buy when the blade itself is healthy, the workmanship is clear, and current NBTHK Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon papers give you...