Reflections on Dealer and Auction House Experiences

[Lukrez]

First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the many valuable contributions and the open exchange in this forum. It’s truly a privilege to learn from the knowledge and experience of others, and I’ve already benefited greatly from reading through various discussions.

 

One aspect, however, that has been troubling me for quite some time is my own experience with several Nihonto dealers and auction houses, particularly in Europe, Switzerland, and Canada. I’ve also reviewed some of the forum posts from previous years, and it’s striking to see other members have reported similar concerns. Unfortunately, my personal experiences have frequently fallen short of the level of quality and professionalism one might hope for in such a specialized field.

 

Issues I’ve encountered range from false or misleading specifications — incorrect measurements, for instance, Wakizashi being advertised as Katana  — and when asked about it, the usual response is something along the lines of: “Sorry, I currently have so many swords that I must have made a copy-paste error.”  In addition, I’ve experienced high-pressure tactics, such as claims that a dealer in Japan will only offer a piece at a specific price for a very limited time, with implied consequences for declining the offer. In some cases, translations of NBTHK papers have been questionable or clearly flawed, and attempts to clarify details have been met with silence or evasive responses. What’s more, it’s not uncommon for sellers with many years in the trade to present their offerings with subpar photos or poorly made videos, sometimes recorded casually from a living room — making it difficult to assess a blade properly and undermining the trust one would expect from a professional source.

 

While I fully understand that not every seller has access to high-end equipment or production facilities, I believe that basic standards of clarity, honesty, and professionalism should be the norm — especially in a field that demands such a high level of expertise and historical sensitivity.

 

As a result of these experiences, I’ve come to the conclusion that going forward, I will only purchase blades either during personal trips to Japan, where I can inspect them in person, or within the trusted context of this forum, where quality and integrity seem to be held in much higher regard.

 

On a related note, I would be very grateful to learn whether there are any gatherings, meetings, or informal groups for collectors and students of Nihonto in Switzerland or southern Germany. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to exchange knowledge and view pieces in person. I speak German, English, and Russian, and would be happy to connect in any of these languages.

I’m sharing these observations not as criticism for its own sake, but in the hope of encouraging thoughtful discussion on how we, as collectors and enthusiasts, can  identify trustworthy sources. I would be very interested to hear how others in this community approach these challenges and what criteria you rely on when evaluating dealers.

[Lewis B]

Hi Lukrez,

While I certainly agree some EU dealers leave a lot to be desired (avoid Catawiki and the dealers selling on that site), there are certainly some notable exceptions. Pablo Kuntz of Unique Japan is based in the UK but has an office in Tokyo. His teams photography is among the best and he appears to be offering some more accessibly priced pieces. I would trust him implicitely to curate the blades he offers.

For informal contact with enthusiasts consider joining the NBTHK-EB (European Branch). They organise bimonthly meetings (usually in the Klinge Museum in Solingen) and occasionally closer to you in Manching. These events are incredible and I have had the pleasure to examine many Juyo and Tokuju blades by some grandmasters. Next week we will have a special meetup and a unique opportunity to see several swords by 3 generations from the Rai school, the founder Rai Kuniyuki, Kunitoshi (son) and Kunimitsu (grandson). There is also the German Nihonto Club but they only meet once or twice a year. I haven't attended one of these yet but hope to attend next October.

Next month will see the annual Japan Art Expo in Utrecht and this is another unmissable occasion for European collectors. Over 15 retailers from Europe, Japan and North America will attend offering many high quality nihonto, tosugu and katchu from all eras. The lectures are also worthwhile.

[Lukrez]

Hi Lewis

Thank you for your detailed message and the many helpful pointers — I truly appreciate it! I've also received a few valuable tips via private messages, which I’m grateful for as well.

When you mentioned next month, I assume you were referring to the Japan Art Expo in Utrecht, June 13–15? That sounds fantastic, and I’ll make sure to attend! 

I really enjoy the publications from Pablo Kuntz and his team — the presentation is always top-notch. Unfortunately, the pieces featured are often already sold by the time they’re published. As far as I know, there isn’t a website with up-to-date listings of available items — it seems most offerings are shared through direct personal contact.

The gatherings in Manching are much more accessible for me geographically than Solingen, so I’d love to attend one. Do I need to register in advance, or can one simply show up?

As for similar events here in Switzerland, I haven’t come across anything comparable yet — if anyone reading this knows of something or would be open to getting in touch, I’d be very happy to hear from fellow collectors.

[Lewis B]

Yes that's the event. Here is a glossy pre-show YT advertisement

 

 

Regarding the NBTHK-EB meetings. You are entitled to one free admission after that you need to be a NBTHK member or pay an attendance fee. I'll PM some details.