Nihonto Blog
Daisho: Japan's Matched Sword Pair Collector's ...
Quick Summary A daisho is a matched pair of Japanese swords, traditionally a katana and wakizashi worn together as the exclusive symbol of samurai status during the Edo period. Most...
Daisho: Japan's Matched Sword Pair Collector's ...
Quick Summary A daisho is a matched pair of Japanese swords, traditionally a katana and wakizashi worn together as the exclusive symbol of samurai status during the Edo period. Most...
Shinto Swords: Collector's Guide to Edo Period ...
Quick Summary Shintō swords (新刀, 1596-1780) are Edo period blades made after Japan unified under the Tokugawa shogunate, known for wider bodies and a more refined, status-driven aesthetic than earlier...
Shinto Swords: Collector's Guide to Edo Period ...
Quick Summary Shintō swords (新刀, 1596-1780) are Edo period blades made after Japan unified under the Tokugawa shogunate, known for wider bodies and a more refined, status-driven aesthetic than earlier...
Koto Swords: Ancient Japanese Blades Before 160...
TL;DR Koto swords are Japanese blades forged before approximately 1596 to 1600, representing the oldest and rarest category of nihonto available to collectors. They were produced across five regional schools...
Koto Swords: Ancient Japanese Blades Before 160...
TL;DR Koto swords are Japanese blades forged before approximately 1596 to 1600, representing the oldest and rarest category of nihonto available to collectors. They were produced across five regional schools...
Shinshintō Swords: Japan's Sword Revival Collec...
TL;DR: Shinshintō swords (1781–1876) represent Japan's deliberate sword revival, when master smiths set out to recapture the techniques of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. The greatest names, Taikei Naotane, Minamoto...
Shinshintō Swords: Japan's Sword Revival Collec...
TL;DR: Shinshintō swords (1781–1876) represent Japan's deliberate sword revival, when master smiths set out to recapture the techniques of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. The greatest names, Taikei Naotane, Minamoto...
Gokaden: The Five Japanese Sword Schools
Quick Summary The Gokaden are the five classical schools of Japanese swordsmithing that emerged between the Heian and Muromachi periods, each tied to a specific region, forging philosophy, and set...
Gokaden: The Five Japanese Sword Schools
Quick Summary The Gokaden are the five classical schools of Japanese swordsmithing that emerged between the Heian and Muromachi periods, each tied to a specific region, forging philosophy, and set...
Japanese Sword Polishing Guide: When Your Nihon...
Quick Summary Most antique nihonto do not need polishing. If your blade has minor surface scratches, a healthy shine, and a clearly visible hamon, leave it alone. Unnecessary polishing removes...
Japanese Sword Polishing Guide: When Your Nihon...
Quick Summary Most antique nihonto do not need polishing. If your blade has minor surface scratches, a healthy shine, and a clearly visible hamon, leave it alone. Unnecessary polishing removes...