Authenticity Guide — What You're Actually Buying

What does "authentic" mean?

An authentic nihonto is a Japanese sword that was traditionally forged in Japan using tamahagane steel, following centuries-old methods. It is not a replica. It is not a decorative piece. It is a real weapon made by a real swordsmith, whether 50 or 500 years ago.

Every sword on Tokyo Nihonto is an authentic nihonto. No exceptions.

The registration card (torokusho)

In Japan, every sword must be registered with the local Board of Education. When a sword is registered, it receives a torokusho — a government-issued registration card. This card confirms:

  • The sword exists and is accounted for in Japan's cultural property system
  • Its physical measurements (blade length, curvature)
  • Any visible signature (mei) on the tang

Every sword we sell is registered and has its torokusho on file. The torokusho is submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs as part of the export permit process and stays in Japan — it cannot be exported. We provide a copy for your records.

Important: the torokusho is a registration document, not a quality or authenticity certification. It confirms the sword is legally registered — it does not grade its quality or verify the signature.

NBTHK certification — what it is and what it is not

The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai / Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword) is an independent organization that evaluates and certifies Japanese swords. Submitting a sword to NBTHK is voluntary — many genuine antique swords have never been submitted.

A sword without NBTHK papers is not necessarily fake. It simply means it hasn't been formally evaluated by NBTHK. Many excellent swords in our inventory are unpapered.

When a sword does have NBTHK papers, there are four tiers:

  • Hozon — "Worthy of preservation." Confirms the sword is a genuine, traditionally made nihonto of acceptable quality.
  • Tokubetsu Hozon — "Especially worthy of preservation." A step above Hozon — better condition, clearer characteristics.
  • Juyo Token — "Important sword." Only ~2% of submitted swords achieve this. Museum-quality pieces.
  • Tokubetsu Juyo — "Especially important sword." The top ~0.3%. Exceptional masterworks.

If a sword on our site has NBTHK papers, it is clearly stated in the listing. The certificate is included with the sword.

So how do I know the sword is real?

Three layers of assurance:

  1. Japanese government registration (torokusho) — every sword we sell is registered. The torokusho is used to obtain the export permit.
  2. NBTHK certification (when available) — independent expert evaluation.
  3. Our expertise and reputation — we are a team of three based in Tokyo, with deep relationships across the Japanese sword world. We inspect every sword in person, and we stake our business on the authenticity of what we sell. If you ever have doubts about a sword, ask us.