I Have a Million Questions About Buying a Blade in Japan

[Lordd_Humungous]

I'm travelling to Tokyo in a few months, and I'm curious about buying a blade there. My budget might be laughable to some, but I'd like to spend less than $1,000 USD if possible. I'm not particularly picky in terms of what I want to the point that if all else is off the table I'd get an iaito, bokken, or a koshirae set with a wooden insert in place of a blade. I've just been a backyard tatami cutter and collector of modern reproductions for long enough that the mission is essentially to get a piece where the pride of ownership simply comes from it being from Japan, and it will be appreciated from a display (with proper care if it's an antique of course). So basically, I want to get something closely linked to my sword hobby even if it ends up being gramps' old Gunto tsuba found at a flea market. Keep in mind that I don't speak the language so a detailed conversation with a seller there isn't really possible.

 

1. What legally counts as a sword there? If I can avoid the export process that would of course be ideal. For example, when does a knife become a tanto? Kiridashi are often in wooden handles/sheaths resembling shirasaya minus the mekugi, so does the assembly have anything to do with it? Or is it the forging process that makes something a sword? I know Gunto with machine-made blades are destroyed by law there and that anything which counts as a sword must be made using traditional methods in-country by a registered smith, but is it possible that some monosteel "tanto" get around the laws by moreso counting as "knives"?  And I think I've heard that yari heads count as swords, but would something like a jitte/kabutowari dressed up in sword-like koshirae count as a sword? What about a kozuka? What would be the closest thing to a traditional metal Japanese weapon which could be purchased without the sword export process?

 

2. Where would I go to look/make a purchase? Would antique stores possibly carry things like old tired blades, fittings/koshirae, etc? If not, are there specific stores which sell koshirae, related "weapons" like jitte/kabutowari (if they don't count as swords), etc? Do knife stores which are geared less toward culinary and more toward martial arts purposes exist?

 

I'm sure more questions will spawn from discussion, and thank you to anyone who's willing to give this white barbarian layman the time of day and answer his questions.

 

Thanks, Jackson

[Brian]

You're not going to find "tanto" made in any way that isn't subject to export laws, unless maybe the blade is less than 15cm. You may find short yari that aren't subject to export process, if the blade is shorter than 15cm. If you find a flea market sword that isn't registered or is just handed over, trying to take it out the country without paperwork is a serious risk, and subject to legal action.
Honestly, you're going to struggle to find a sword under $1000 from a dealer there, since most of them dump them on eBay and to the West. And those are all going to need the export process.
Best bet is look for a nice kozuka, or a yari in shirasaya.
Yes, you'll see many fittings in second hand shops, and some blades. And shockingly, they seem to ask double to triple the market values. Every antique dealer there seems to think that sword-related antiques are treasures. Even tsuba in flea markets are a mix of copies, and overpriced average stuff.
Best bet is contact a bunch of dealers beforehand, and see if they can source something before you go.

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

I can understand the reasoning behind "I got it from my trip to Japan" but honestly, you should be able to find (even on this forum) a decent Nihonto for 1k$, without worry about export/customs. Even recently I saw @Travis Clarke selling some blades (in USA) for less then 1k$. 

Example: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/51435-shin-shinto-tanto-signed-sadamitsu

 

 

My advice, buy something in country, from one of forum members. You will enjoy decent/genuine blade and avoid stress while visiting Japan

 

If you still insist on doing purchase in Japan, then either try to get in touch with dealers upfront (so they can start export process) or agree with them to sell and ship (so you won't take it with you). However, I doubt you will be able to buy something decent (talking about blade) for 1k$.

 

[SteveM]

Kinokuniya is a shop in Tokyo that carries a huge selection of samurai-era antiques. They mostly sell armor, but they may have some koshirae. You can email them to see. They are a rather large "clearing house" for antiques, so the items they sell are not particularly high grade antiques, but you can get authentic items that might fit your budget. Located near Tokyo station - however there has been extensive renovations around that area for the past several years, so I'm not quite sure if they are still located at the address mentioned on their home page. They seem to be open to communicating by email in English, so you might try to contact them. I used to enjoy just walking around the shop and looking at all the items they had. Disorganized, stuff piled on top of other stuff, dusty, musty, but fascinating to look at. 

 

http://www.kinokuniya.tv/info_en.php

 

(Not to be confused with Kinokuniya the book store, or Kinokuniya the grocery store, both of which are completely different enterprises catering somewhat to foreigners in Tokyo)

[SteveM]

Japan Sword and Aoi Art are other Tokyo-based shops dealing in various sword-related goods, and might have something for your budget. Both are used to dealing in English, and both can communicate in English, at least via email. As Brian says above, all swords are subject to export restrictions, so you won't be taking any swords back with you in your checked baggage. But koshirae and other decorative elements are normally not subject to restrictions. There have been some reports of customs agents demanding export certificates for higher value items (tsuba over a certain value), but generally you won't have to worry about koshirae. Sometimes customs agents don't actually know the latest laws, and get over zealous. 

 

http://www.japansword.co.jp/js-e.html

https://www.aoijapan.com/