Nihonto: Antique Japanese Swords for Sale
This is the inventory page for antique and modern nihonto for sale. If you're looking for fittings they are on the fittings inventory page. If you are new and need some help on some of the ratings terms, try reading the Smith Ratings article.
You can contact me by using the contact button on the upper right hand corner of this website or try me at the following address: 
Please read this statement about buying or trading nihonto, tosogu and other artifacts, it covers your rights and mine, and the extent of my guarantee and return policy. The act of sending me funds for purchase is your implicit agreement to these terms, so please read them.
Coming Soon
These antique Japanese swords will be coming to my site soon. Feel free to ask questions if you are in the market to buy. The two coming soon are expensive. These are all consignments from older collectors rearranging their collections for advanced ages.
- Rai Mitsushige tanto dated 1331, featured in the Kozan Oshigata, and Juyo Token. This smith is extremely rare, one of the students of Rai Kunitoshi and went on to be the nidai Rai Kunimitsu. A second generation Mitsushige ended up in the Tokugawa Shogun collection. Very important museum style piece as no other Rai Mitsukane signatures are known to exist.
- Shodai Echizen Yasutsugu tanto, written as "utsushi of Masamune" in his own hand, custom order for the daimyo Honda Hida no Kami and with fine koshirae (my guess is Sano school tosogu), kogatana with Tokugawa crest by Nagasone Okisato (Kotetsu's student). Juyo Candidate. Yasutsugu made several of these utsushi of Masamune, Sadamune, Yoshimitsu, etc. when he retempered the burned collection of Toyotomi Hideyoshi after the fall of Osaka castle.
- Enju Kunimura tanto (the only signed one left), accompanied by gorgeous Goto Ichijo issaku koshirae. Both Tokubetsu Hozon but the koshirae can pass Juyo.
- Go Yoshihiro, ex. Matsudaira Clan (greater Tokugawa clan), with Tokugawa koshirae. Beautiful blade I saw while trapped in Japan and one of nine Go with clear cut clan ownership. Juyo Token but maybe Tokuju contender. (hold:g)
- Sa Yukihide katana (one of the Shinshinto greats, Juyo Token)
Consignments.
- Sa Sadayoshi healthy katana with beautiful horimono in the bohi, this is a smith in the Samonji group with great skill and the blade is Juyo.
- O-nagamaki style naginata by Chounsai Tsunatoshi, 85cm cutting edge and retains its original mounts, so an important piece and 3.71cm motohaba. Custom order for a court noble Fujiwara Ason Masaaki recorded on the nakago.
- Rai Kunitoshi mumei katana (early Juyo) with excellent Tokugawa tachi koshirae
- Rai Kunimitsu Honami Kojo kinzogan mei Tokubetsu Juyo katana, one of the best I've seen from the smith.
- Soshu Yukimitsu Juyo token but can pass Tokuju.
- Niji Kunitoshi Tokubetsu Juyo token, shorter blade but fantastic activity and one of the better ones I've seen.
- Shodai Nobukuni katana, looks a lot like Sadamune, Juyo Token
- Tametsugu (Son of Go Yoshihiro), Juyo Token with koshirae
Available Swords
At the moment I have sold out of all of my sword inventory. I have some consignments coming in and am of course always looking for new great pieces if I can get them. High class swords are becoming harder to obtain in the past year so please stay tuned for future updates.
A smart, modern, sword care kit. Click on the image to go to the blog post for details.
Free to New Juyo Sword Clients.
Nihonto: Reference Archive
The following swords are not for sale, but presented for education.
End of Kamakura (ca. 1326)
Juyo Token
A massive sword by the hard to find Rai master.
-sold-
Edo Shinto (ca. 1630)
Juyo Token
A sword made for and bearing the mon of the daimyo Honda Hida no Kami Narishige. Article brought up to date from 7 years back.
-sold-
Late Edo (1836)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
A massive, custom ordered sword for the samurai Gimura. On consignment.
-sold-
Middle Nanbokucho (ca. 1350)
Juyo Token
A Soshu sword with beautiful jigane by the founder of the Mino tradition.
-sold-
Nanbokucho (ca. 1362)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A phenomenal Chogi katana in nearly perfect condition, similar to the signed Juyo Bunkazai Owari Tokugawa heirloom.
-sold-
Kanbun Edo (ca. 1661)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
A wide and powerful blade, a Nanbokucho utsushi seemingly pointed at Chogi, from the Awataguchi Tadatsuna shinto school.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura (ca. 1250)
Juyo Token
A wide, flamboyant middle Kamakura masterpiece with ikubi kissaki from the Shimazu daimyo collection.
-sold-
Nanbokucho (ca. 1360)
Juyo Token
A blade formerly known as the Hoshizukiyo Masamune, and property of Takeda Shingen, handed down through the Tsuchiya daimyo family.
-sold-
Early Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1340)
Juyo Token
A rare, beautiful and healthy Soshu tanto by the famed Great Sa. On consignment.
-sold-
Middle Edo (ca. 1671)
Hozon Token
A complete daisho from the Edo period from two of the Yoshimichi smiths.
-sold-
Shinsakuto (2017)
Modern Token
A custom ordered daisho from the highly regarded Mukansa smith, in Ichimonji style. On consignment.
-sold-
Late Kamakura Koto (ca. 1332)
Juyo Token
A beautiful katana by one of the best Soshu smiths.
-sold-
Late Kamakura / Early Nanbokucho (ca. 1290)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
One of the finest blades made by Soshu Yukimitsu, in the style of his teacher Shintogo Kunimitsu.
-sold-
Middle Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1356). On consignment.
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A massive, brutal katana from the Soshu/Yamashiro Hasebe school, ranked at the highest level.
-sold-
Late Kamakura (ca. 1310)
Juyo Token
A wide and beautiful sword with kinzogan mei of Yukimitsu, and owner's name (Hayami Sakon) on the ura.
-sold-
Early Kamakura (ca. 1230)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
An absolute rarity, a signed early Kamakura tachi by one of the teachers of Emperor Gotoba.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura (ca. 1260 - 1280)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A true masterpiece, with top ranking, in the koshirae made for Count Ito Myoji.
-sold-
Late Kamakura (ca. 1288)
Juyo Token
A masterpiece from the top tanto maker in history.
-sold-
Heian Koto (ca. 1040)
Juyo Token
An ancient sword, and one of the very few works left that represent the Ko-Yamashiro schools of Sanjo and Gojo.
-sold-
Heian (ca. 1053 AD)
Juyo Token
An extremely rare signed Heian tachi from the Gojo school with great Tokugawa Shogunate koshirae.
-sold-
Early Kamakura (ca. 1225)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A perfect early Kamakura tachi.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura (ca. 1264)
Juyo Token
A very rare signed tachi by one of the pillars of Ichimonji, the famous smith Norifusa.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura Koto (ca. 1260)
Juyo Token
A stunning katana with radiant utsuri by the top school of Ichimonji. Accompanied by Honami Kochu origami and koshirae.
-sold-
Late Kamakura (ca. 1315)
Juyo Token
A beautiful work from the Ichimonji school at the end of the Kamakura period.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura Koto (ca. 1250)
Juyo Token
An extremely important signed tachi from the founder of the Osafune school, the highly praised smith Mitsutada. Property of an American collector on consignment.
-sold-
Late Kamakura (ca. 1295)
Juyo Token
A gorgeous late Kamakura work by the preeminent Bizen smith.
-sold-
Late Kamakura (ca. 1315)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A top level masterpiece work of the Kamakura grand-master.
-sold-
Late Kamakura Koto (ca. 1315)
Juyo Token
A work with vivid utsuri by the best maker of Bizen tanto.
-sold-
Early Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1330 – 1340)
Juyo Token
A huge magnificent Nanbokucho tachi, 79 cm or 31 inches, by the very rare first maker of the Soden Bizen style and producer of Honami Kotoku's favorite tanto.
-sold-
Nanbokucho
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A perfect sword, the doom of Asakura Kageharu at the hands of Hayashi Motokatsu.
-sold-
Middle Nanbokucho (ca. 1356)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A magnificent Nanbokucho blade by the Soden-Bizen smith Yoshikage.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura (ca. 1270).
Juyo Token
A rare naginata naoshi katana from the Kamakura; a masterpiece in nearly perfect health from one of the grandmaster founders of Soshu.
-sold-
Kamakura/Nanbokucho border (ca. 1338)
Juyo Token
One of the very few tanto attributed to Hosho Sadaoki. On consignment.
-sold-
Late Kamakura (ca. 1320)
Juyo Token
A Late Kamakura sword in the trademark masame of the Hosho school.
-sold-
Late Kamakura Koto (ca. 1330)
Juyo Token
One of the very few signed works of the Yamato Hosho school to survive to the present day. Excellent, typical work of this school. Ex. Han Bing Siong collection.
-sold-
Late Muromachi
Hozon Token
A long and highly active work, most likely of the third generation of the Kanemoto school, complete with fine tachi koshirae.
-sold-
Showa (1943 AD)
Hozon Token
A brilliant Soshu style work from the master WWII era swordsmith.
-sold-
Early Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1340)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A mighty katana with vibrant hataraki in the ji, and an heirloom of the Mori daimyo.
-sold-
Kamakura Koto (ca. 1280)
Juyo Token
A very rare katana from the Kamakura branch of Ichimonji, by one of the founding fathers of the Soshu swordsmiths.
-sold-
Showa Gendaito (1940)
Koshu Tokubetsu Kicho, Hozon Token
A brilliant katana in ayasugi hada, commemorating the 2,600th year of the Empire.
-sold-
Shizu Kaneuji and Kikuoka Mitsuaki
Late Kamakura Koto (swords), Late Edo (tosogu)
Hozon Tosogu, Juyo Token, Hozon Token
Matched pair of swords by the Masamune student and Mino founder Shizu Kaneuji, with modern made scabbards featuring antique issaku daisho tosogu by Kikuoka Mitsuaki
-sold-
Kamakura Koto (ca. 1320)
Juyo Token
A masterpiece katana from the famous student of Masamune, and founder of the Mino tradition. Kinzogan mei, and a former possession of the noble Konoe clan.
-sold-
Nanbokucho (ca. 1334-1360)
Juyo Token
A meito from the Edo period, the Imagawa Shizu, formerly in the Sano Museum collection and heirloom of the Imagawa Clan.
-sold-
Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1360 – 1375)
Juyo Token
Very rare example of the pillar of the Nanbokucho Soshu tradition, in hitatsura and complete with koshirae.
-sold-
Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1340)
Juyo Token
A highly active and very healthy Soshu sword from one of the famous Masamune Juttetsu.
-sold-
Late Kamakura / Early Nanbokucho (ca. 1334)
Juyo Token
A healthy and gorgeous example of Soshu-den from one of the famous Masamune Juttetsu.
-sold-
Nanbokucho (ca. 1362)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
An exciting and active Soshu blade with a two body cutting test in gold inlay. Likely property of the Nabeshima daimyo. On consignment.
-sold-
Early Kamakura (possibly late Heian) Koto (ca. 1200)
Juyo Token
A long tachi of 75 cm, almost ubu, a treasure from the beginning of the Kamakura period. Property of a private collector.
-sold-
Early to Mid Kamakura Koto (ca. 1250)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
A nearly mint condition katana made by the founder of the famous Rai school, from the golden era of the Japanese sword. Top ranked at Tokubetsu Juyo.
-sold-
Late Kamakura (ca. 1310)
Hozon Token
A beautiful Rai tanto with gold maki-e koshirae and kozuka by Goto Mitsumasa.
-sold-
Late Kamakura - Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1320 – 1340)
Juyo Token
An excellent and dignified katana by the Yamashiro grand master.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura Koto (ca. 1259)
Juyo Token
A finely mounted tachi by the famous Kamakura period grandmaster.
-sold-
Middle Kamakura (ca. 1275)
Tokubetsu Juyo Token
An heirloom of the Shimazu daimyo, with top ranking of Tokubetsu Juyo. A huge, imposing Kamakura masterpiece of the Bizen tradition.
-sold-
Heian Koto (ca. 987 - 1050)
Juyo Token
An ancient katana about a thousand years in age, from the school that inspired and challenged Masamune and Norishige to create their masterpieces.
-sold-
Late Heian Koto (ca. 987 – 1185)
Juyo Token
The first of eight accepted at the Juyo level by the as works of Ko-Bizen Tomonari, the founder of the Bizen tradition. An extremely precious and ancient blade, its maker very rarely seen. Polished by the Living National Treasure togishi Ono Kokei.
-sold-
Showa (1945)
Unpapered Token
A heartfelt katana copying Ichimonji by the scion of the wealthy Shibata, a member of government, sculptor, sword researcher, military man, and known as the shining star of gendai swordsmiths. On the nakago is inscribed a poem of honorable death in the service of the Empire, made during its fall.
-sold-
Late Kamakura Koto (ca. 1326)
Juyo Token
A beautiful Aoe school katana with kinzogan mei by Honami Kokyu, accompanied by Edo period Tokugawa samurai koshirae and solid gold Aoi mon habaki.
-sold-
Nanbokucho Koto (ca. 1352)
Juyo Token
A long tachi of 77 cm with rare katana-mei from the top smith of the middle Aoe school, in nearly mint condition.
-sold-
Nanbokucho (ca. 1356)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
A powerfully shaped blade from the Nanbokucho period; a favorite sword of the samurai Tani Kyubei (Moriharu), named Kusanotsuyu (Dew on the Grass).
-sold-
Muromachi Koto (1537)
Juyo Token
A rare and flamboyant hitatsura katana made by one of the best smiths of the Muromachi period, in the style of his most famous work.
-sold-
Early Edo Shinto (1616)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
A stunning and rare naginata work of Shodai Tadayoshi made in the early part of his career.
-sold-
Late Edo (1850)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
A large tachi in the style of Norishige, mounted as a katana in original mounts. By the third generation master of the Suishinshi school and featured in the Shinshinto Taikan.
-sold-
Middle Muromachi Koto (ca. 1500)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
An Esoteric Buddhist blade devoted to the Shingon sect. In top condition, a good example of the Sue-Soshu school.
-sold-
Early Edo Shinto (1632)
Juyo Token
A rare kenjo-mei katana custom ordered by the Nabeshima Daimyo clan. Bearing his final art name Tadahiro and the last date of his career, and gold inlaid two body cutting test by Yamano Nagahisa. An exquisite package complete with koshirae.
-sold-
Late Edo Shinshinto (1854)
Authenticated Token
A consigned katana by the top Bizen tradition smith of the late Edo period, accompanied by koshirae.
-sold-
Edo Shinto
Hozon Token
An unusual, and very beautiful yari. Featured in the Osaka Shinto Zufu.
-sold-
Kanbun Shinto (ca. 1680)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
A gorgeous long katana from the highly talented 3rd generation Tadayoshi, and top ranked for sharpness. Accompanied by excellent mounts.
-sold-
Kanbun Shinto (ca. 1675)
Tokubetsu Hozon Token
A shinto katana from the well known Hizen school, complete with koshirae.
-sold-
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