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If I understood correctly, you are looking to see some swords made for or used by Japanese shogunate. Well here are some: The first one, Monoyoshi, made by Sadamune, used by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The rumour was when Tokugawa went into battle with this Wakizashi, he would always win. Passed down to his ninth son, Yoshinao, Lord of Owari. Second one, a tachi attributed to Aoe Sadaji. It was originally 75cm but it was shortened to 60.3cm. It was named "Nikkari", comes from the legend that after it slashed a ghost who was smiling, turned out next morning a stone pagoda had been cut into two. Dedicated to Hideyoshi by Nagahide. And Hideyoshi 's son Hideyori presented it to Takatsugu. Third one, the one and only long blade made by Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, master of tanto..They called this blade Ichigo Hitofuri(the one and only lifetime sword). It was owned by Ashikaga family during the Sengoku period. Later on it was dedicated to Hideyoshi and as he was short, he had the sword shortened to 69cm(it was originally 86cm) It was burned in the great fire of Meiriki but Tokugawa family had Echizen Yasutsugu recover it. Later on, Tokugawa Mochinaga presented it to Emperor Komei. Has been passed on as an imperial property since then. Fourth one, Tokugawa Ieyasu's favorite sword, made by Sukezane of Bizen. Originally belonged to Kato Kiyomasa, presented it as his congratulations on his daughter's marriage to the tokugawa. And the last but not least, Dojigiri Yasutsuna, belonged to Minamoto no Yorimoto. Built at the end of the Heian period, had been inherited in the Ashikaga Shogun..passed on to Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. It wasn't used in any battle, but the cutting quality had been proven by cutting six corpses in the Edo period.

I am working through a collection of yari that I received on consignment. All are signed and three of the four are papered and all are in shirasaya. I will update this post with additional details, but starting with a few photos and prices below. - Kawachi (no) Kami Nagakuni long sankaku-yari - $7,000 (plus shipping and PayPal) - Naiki Yasushige jumonji-yari - $6,500 (plus shipping and PayPal) - Tegai Kanesada jumonji-yari - $6,000 (plus shipping and PayPal) Kunitsune katakama-yari - $2,750 (plus shipping and PayPal) Best regards, Ray

Well as I was doing some research on some Jūyō related stuff, I found info on Tōken Bijutsu 235 (August 1976) when looking at Jūyō 24 results and submission numbers that the magazine had. There was additional section that was not included in the Jūyō 24 book, and I realized that during this session I believe separately NBTHK authenticated 18 swords and 3 tsuba for Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Now of course I was really into hunting them down and finding info on them. I believe I found 17 out of the 18 swords and all 3 tsuba are Natsuo, out of those I have 1 that I believe is certain due to theme and 2 options for number 3. Here is the list of the items and link to item on the MFA page. Tantō - Rai Kunitoshi - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27497/sword-of-the-tanto-type?ctx=0a760ee2-a846-4894-a542-cf05cea18e4c&idx=0 Tantō (actually wakizashi sized) - Rai Kunimune - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11209/sword-of-the-wakizashi-type?ctx=3ac83282-31da-474c-b24a-816811aa0889&idx=0 Tantō - Norinaga (1319) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/25285/sword-of-the-tanto-type?ctx=df89231f-97bd-4445-bac3-f69b6ffa6173&idx=1 Katana - Ko-Bizen Yoshikane [71,2 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11167/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=15631a84-e724-4ea4-a1b0-d61b9c2f0b5d&idx=0 Tachi - Shigehisa - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27461/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=6f31b97d-3d5d-4758-8bd8-81f73697bc45&idx=0 Katana - Fukuoka Ichimonji - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27458/sword-of-the-katana-type-formerly-a-tachi?ctx=fcd9846d-a93a-43b2-9e65-8fb2363f1ff3&idx=3 Tachi - Naganori - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/28164/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=fcd9846d-a93a-43b2-9e65-8fb2363f1ff3&idx=6 Tachi - Sukeshige (1343) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27390/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=fcd9846d-a93a-43b2-9e65-8fb2363f1ff3&idx=0 Tachi - Nagamitsu - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/28165/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=e3f9dc6d-dd01-42ef-83cd-28b9e94f482a&idx=4 Katana - Nagamitsu - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27468/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=e3f9dc6d-dd01-42ef-83cd-28b9e94f482a&idx=3 Tachi - Kagemitsu [74,4 cm] (I believe it to be this as others have longer mei & orikaeshi) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/25251/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=8aed4d2a-6c36-4503-9123-59837b9077ae&idx=1 Tachi - Kagemoto - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/25247/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=3609d043-e8a1-44c2-ab72-8d96e8f58fa2&idx=0 Tachi - Kunimune [78,3 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27462/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=0659cce9-2883-4870-8e3f-e51b957f3505&idx=1 Katana - den Unji [71,1cm] - this I couldn't find at the museum site Katana - den Chōgi - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11227/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=d5cf90ae-6067-4190-a5c4-b5535e55accb&idx=10 Tachi - Morimitsu (1396) [72,3 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/28930/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=40fb3ace-c776-4deb-b522-c2606583437d&idx=1 Katana - Kunimichi [76,5 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27399/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=27cc3c69-5327-4a66-be62-1dcb1e48a69d&idx=25 Katana - Kunikiyo (with cutting test) [75,6 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27394/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=5a1ec40d-84dc-4277-b050-160682aef399&idx=22 Tsuba - Natsuo (Deer theme) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11895/tsuba-with-design-of-deer-and-moon?ctx=bd241c00-f43b-4cd8-b57b-ee6a3b163631&idx=7 Tsuba - Natsuo (Peony theme) - This I couldn't match to MFA items, has also signature 夏雄製 (印銘) Tsuba - Natsuo (Iris theme) 2 options - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11889/tsuba-with-design-of-iris?ctx=9bd2be43-ea15-40bc-9d4b-1a5d5564412c&idx=2 or https://collections.mfa.org/objects/205812/tsuba-with-design-of-reishi-fungus-and-irises?ctx=598d0e0b-1c78-4d03-8346-4b2e204f14b2&idx=29 Is any of this relevant info? Well I had fun searching them today and thought I would share it with people. This was also first time I saw NBTHK authenticate items in Jūyō shinsa that are not included in Jūyō book. Of course all of this happened long time ago but these items still are in the US (However just noted that many of these fine swords are on loan in Japan at Shizuoka City Museum at this moment).

Have a blade where the sayagaki said it was made as a gift to a daimyo for whatever that is worth =|:^)

Just to add, often the shogun or Daimyo who had not treasure swords to offer, had a stock of o suriage mumei swords and offer them with a certificate of famous appraisers stating that the sword was forged by grand Grand Master so and so. Nobody was fooled and the blade could be reoffered a few years later and so on… Everybody was keeping face.

The first is Hamano school, the second is Nukagawa school [unsure if this Yasunori was the founder or a later pupil who used part of his name?] The last example is a piece by Iwamoto Konkwan 1755- 1801 and is described as "The poet Narihira unable to take his eyes from a contemplation of Mt.Fuji and its beauties. Narihira was a noble of the ninth century, renowned for his beauty and for his love for Ono-no-Komachi, an equally celebrated poetess. He is frequently depicted riding by her gate, playing the flute."

I'm sure I remember a gold-mounted tachi being offered for sale as belonging to the Duke of Windsor/Edward VIII. This was many years ago. It was apparently a gift to the Duke on a visit to Japan??? I don't remember the blade. BaZZa.

Not exactly a "Royal" but here is a Wakizashi made by Akamatsu Masanori during the Onin war siege of Fuoka Castle. Masanori was assisted by Osafune Munemitsu & Katsumitsu. He made few blades and all of them were political gifts. This blade is presently in Japan awaiting NBTHK shinsa. Masanori was known to have made only 14 blades, this one, No. 15 surfaced in the US a few decades ago.

@Shamsy Steve Found a red bean paint Type 30 scabbard.

Fukunaga Suiken Sensei has a two-volume book detailing the collections of the Imperial Household and the major daimyo families - many of the most famous swords that we are all familiar with are listed there. As noted most are older blades by well-known artists, very few "royal" commissions... -tch

It depends how “Royal” is defined, I sadly lost the article but one of Darcy’s noted how most gifts between Daimyo or to the Shogun were old treasure swords. Hizen-to were an exception though and the Nabeshima would gift their best to other Daimyo, even the Tokugawa. Don’t have the Darcy story right now but this mentions that as well https://nihontoantiques.com/project/hizen-masatsugu-daito-fss-882/ Not sure if that counts as royals but Jesuit and other old European records refer to Daimyo as “princes” or their lands as duchies so by European reckoning they do.

Dale is correct about the subject, it is Ariwara no Narihira (825-880) writing one of his famous poems. Toki shiranu yama wa fushi no ne itsu totemo ka no komadara ni yuki no furu ran Fuji is a mountain that knows no season. What time does it take this for, That it should be dappled with falling snow? I also have an iron tsuba with this subject (attached). Narihira was also the author of the poem that provides the subject for the yatsuhashi (8 plank bridge) so popular in Kyo sukashi tsuba (Karakoromo kitsutsu narenishitsumashi arebaharubaru kinurutabi oshizo omofu.) I have a beloved wife. Familiar as the skirt of a well- worn robe And so this distant journeying fills my heart with grief Apparently written when he was banished from Kyoto for having an affair with a high born lady of the court. So much for the beloved wife! best regards, John

Like Bazza I have a memory of seeing a tachi reputed to have belonged to the Duke of Windsor, the only reference I have found so far is here, https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/01/arts/antiques-swords-with-the-spirit-of-the-samurai.html The Duke certainly visited Japan in the 1920s. Of course, stupid me, the sword was offered as Lot 305 in Haynes original sale. All the best.

Koto Sue-Tegai signed jumonji-yari. Muromachi period.

Here's one gone the other way around - An "Imperial Gift" to an officer! On Ohmura's site - Type 94 Royal Gift "Yasuhiro". He doesn't say who it's gifted to, but it has a Company Grade tassel, so it's probably an officer.

You'll find great examples on this in a pretty much unknown memoir book called "In the Shelter of the Pine". She took a pretty good and detailed notes on the swords they received as a gift and gifted to others..Written Ogimachi Machiko, second concubine of Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu(Chief adjutant to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi) excerpt from the book: "The gifts, as befitted the special nature of the occasion, included long swords and many other such items of exceptional quality. For the father of the young lord, there was a famous sword known as “Norishige.” For his eldest son, there was a long sword by the name of “Sadamune,” a bay horse with black points and fitted with a saddle, and much else besides. My Lord’s fourth son received a long sword known as “Kiku,” his fifth son “Sukezane,” His Lordship the Right City Commissioner “Mitsutada,” and the Governor of Buzen “Kanemitsu.” For the women of the house and the young ladies, there were silk twill and a variety of furnishings, all of them eye-catchingly beautiful, but I shan’t list them. Among the gifts pre- sented to His Highness, the most noteworthy were the long swords. From the young lord, there was a genuine blade forged by Nobukuni. It was accompanied by the sword “Yukimitsu,” a horse fitted with a saddle and other equipment, robes, and suchlike. His father presented the sword “Kunitoshi,” a genuine blade, as well as a horse and such. His fourth and fifth sons presented him with a long sword said to have been forged by someone called Aoe Sadatsugu, and one known, I think, as “Shirikake.” My Lord’s two sons-in-law presented tsurugi, one called “Ryōkai” and the other “Naotsuna.” The men thought very highly of all of these."

Except for some special events when smiths forge swords dedicated, the custom was to offer old swords made by master smiths.

Gents, I believe the appearance is a property of the steel itself and its response to corrosion. Reason?? I have a TENSHOZAN sword with a near identical rust pattern with area of pristine steel. I believe Robin's sword was once like the one I have, but Robin's nakago has been cleaned. I think it is clear that if I cleaned my nakago it would show the same pattern of rust and pitting.The mei is executed in the same thin characters. I might add this sword is BIG and is in a Shingunto koshirae. BaZZa.

this shouldnt last long

Item No. 238 Iron Tsuba 7.82 cm x 7.60 cm x 0.72 cm Subject of Hikiryo Mon and Kiri -attributed to fifth generation Akasaka - mid 18th cent. Dramatic rendition of its subject matter with superb intact patina. NBTHK papered

The Royal Armouries at Leeds, UK has armours given to James I as diplomatic gifts: https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-30423.html

Probably not what you are looking for but if you search Royal collection or Royal collection trust in the UK there is currently an exhibition at Buckingham Palace of treasures presented as gifts to members of the British Royal family by The Japanese Imperial family. Alongside the other beautiful pieces there are some excellent armours and several beautiful swords.

Jace there are royal families all over the world, the quality of an answer can always be helped by the quality of the question . Japanese swords have been made for, collected and presented to the Japanese Imperial family for nearly a millennia, so it is best to figure out what period most interests you and key figures at the time (Emperor, Shogun, Daimyo etc).

Dan: we would need some better images of yours to get a better sense. Roger: Me too... it's lots of fun doing this sort of hunting for clues and evidence I started looking at the signed one more closely, and there's definitely some suspect areas on the ura side... 1- Some weird streaked pitting on one of the dragon heads, and an incomplete dragon horn tip. 2- some incomplete tail fin spines on the left tail: 3- The left side of the pearl and both teeth of the left dragon also look flawed It would be pretty hard to explain all those if it was all done by hand from start to finish. Maybe the pearl and tooth could have been the result of a flake/chunk of material that broke away or some rust damage... but in the context of the other flawed areas, and having no signs of major rusting anywhere else, plus the near identicalness to the other "twin" tsuba... I'm leaning toward the idea that these are all examples of some type of casting flaw. So, I'm thinking this is a cast tsuba that was finished by hand to hit a higher standard of finish.

Hi Brian, that patina isn't too suspect for these stainless Kai Gunto.

The problem is that some images shown are also likely gimei. The case where specialized text cannot be replaced by search.

This isn't as simple as it might seem. I can explain this metallurgically and from the perspective of engineering (materials and dynamics) if you'd like, but it'll be a very long post and quite technical. The Japanese sword is a unique solution to a unique set of constraints. It is different in construction, metallurgy, geometry and dynamics from all other swords and is optimised for a different usage case. Having trained in JSA for many years I would certainly not select a Japanese sword for use in a duel. There are "superior" swords for any scenario (other than the draw cut).

FWIW..The ito isn't alternating like it should be.

I don't think fragile is the right word as they've last multiple battles and many polishes. There is always a give and take when a smith is manufacturing anything for lightness, speed, durability.

I would like to have your views about a potential school for this shibuichi tsuba. Topic to me is Kato Kiyomasa greeting Fuji mount.

Hi again piers the koshirae now looks much nicer! In the uk before we banned ivory that would be about £2000, possibly a bit more. Blade still looks a duffer to me. But the value of these is nearly always in the mounts so doesn’t really matter as long as all inlay is there.

Also from this sale owner, an ubu signed Ishido Korekazu yari. Nidai (second generation) Korekazu. - $3,500 (plus shipping and PayPal)

Shitahara Naiki Yasushige jumonji-yari, ubu signed and papered

A remarkably similar piece up for auction now- same subjects and layout to Bruno's example but within a different frame and same design as Glen's first two mokko examples [top of this page]

Fuchi Kashira by Jochiku Fuchi-Kashira441-Fiche Jochiku.pdf

another exemple...

As John said. Yes. Throughout Japanese history. As Japan lacked land swords were given as gifts. But to the royal family I'm presuming the Japanese royal family 😆. Throughout the ages shogun and noble would gift the noble family because swords were also a religious symbol. And yes I have visited the Buckingham Palace royal collection and a rai kunimitsu I beleive was gifted to the British. Which also means no not always or probably ever were swords made to a foreign royal family. When they have an inventory of ancient blades which surpass whatever a new smith would make. . Here il even give you a photo

Ian here's a few examples of tsuba made by Chinese smiths living and working in Nagasaki (Edo period). I know of one "school" of these Chinese smiths, called "Kiyou-Toujin", and they had a very distinct style to them:

Yes, that's the correct field grade knot, the black all ranks knot or a field grade Shin Gunto tassel would be accurate as well (just not all at once!)

As Thomas noted, mei is Noshu Ju Nakajima Kunishige Saku. Blade has Sho stamp so probably 1942 or earlier. His real name was Nakajima Hiroshi and was born Meiji 33 (1900) Nov 23 in Gifu. He died in 1944 Oct 27 age 44. He registered early as a swordsmith in Seki on Showa 14 (1939) Oct 25. When he registered his address was Kajita village in Kamo district (to the east of Seki). In 1954 Kajita merged with Tomida and became Tomika. In the war there appear to be a group of smiths working together in Kajita. The fittings on your sword look to be a post-war composition, maybe for iaido?

There are other factors relating to this topic that are worth commmenting on. Firstly the design of openwork tendrils seems to have originated as the pommel and cantle decoration that are a feature of Tietan and Chinese saddles, as well as items such as Tibetan pen-cases. Some of the more elaborate saddles have several layers of pierced metal giving the panels of tendrils a considerable 3D effect. It is possible that the Chinese guards were inspired by the same metalworking tradition. Secondly, we are all familiar with the Dutch colony on Dejima in Nagasaki harbour, but there was also a large Chinese enclave there that traded in Chinese imports such as raw silk and brocades, ivory etc. It is quite possible that some of what we think are Japanese namban tsuba were made there by Chinese workers who complied with Japanese instructions, or that details of what the Japanese style namban tsuba should have, such as the shape and size of the seppa dai and the incorporation of hitsu ana, were sent to workers on the mainland. Ian Bottomley

Wonderful discussion. Thank you Roger.I see this as a beat up "old" Japanese fitting, that we are finding re-newed reason to assess because it might, could, sort of ...bump up against this thing we call "Namban." Peter

Yes, the fittings are Type 98. Can't see the tassel clearly enough to know for sure, but looks like a blue/brown of a company grade officer. If you pick it up, please post better pics. Looks like a large "W" stamped on the nakago?

Brian, please read https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/36-collecting-nihontō-–-what-how-and-who/ before you spend your money.

Some examples of Tenshozan tanrenjo from page 82:

Ok..same sergeant...same sword? So it's either two small soldiers or..just kidding..huge sword.. @Jussi Ekholm @Bruce Pennington

Kirill - I am sorry you have had such a bad experience. While we can't recreate the high level kantei-kai seen in Japan (we don't have the swords) we do get together and share swords informally examining and learning together, it does happen and I am sorry you feel excluded. -tch PS I wish you would message me privately about any individual who acts in this way, I would not want any of my friends treating others in this way...

John, Came across this one on a 1943 Mantetsu. Not a great photo, sorry:

This type of adornment to the saya is (I believe) called a saya kanemono (basically saya decoration). They are very common on the luxurious top end Tanto from the Meiji period…..often of breathtaking quality…..dragons, zodiacal animals…anything that would fit in with the overall theme of the koshirae. Probably appealed more to the wealthy merchants of the Bakumatsu period onwards rather than to the (impoverished) Samurai of the times. However I have seen them added to older swords, possibly to “jazz them up a bit” for sale and also to hide damage to the saya. These ones are often menuki or pouch clasp fittings and can be very nice quality. Many are added outside of Japan…..look for clumsy glue overspill!!! If fitted in Japan the “fit” would be far better. At first glance these ones look like Tachi menuki being reused? Of course…..only imo! Best. Colin .