Green Papered 1977 Wakizasi 脇差 “ Terukado ” 照門

[Rhizosphere]

What is the validity on green papered NBTHK sword? This a particular sword I like. The grain pattern, the hamon, the lenth, etc. But the price seems low. Is that due to it having older, untrusted certification? I am really looking into buying my first nihonto. I have $2000, maybe a bit more atm. Preferably a longer, papered wakizashi from the muromachi period, without major flaws, if possible. I could go Edo if I liked the blade and maker enough. That is why I considered this one. 

[Rhizosphere]

[nulldevice]

Signed 丹波守藤原照門 - Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado.

 

He was a Jo-Saku ranked smith and with green papers, I would assume its a gimei. 

 

For $2500, you can get a signed blade, I don't think you need to feel rushed to get a signed blade with green papers. You can find a papered wakizashi, probably even signed with modern NBTHK papers for that price. 

 

Just looking at the big dealers (Aoi, Eirakudo, Nipponto, Touken Komachi, and others) there are dozens of signed wakizashi with Hozon and some with Tokubetsu Hozon papers right now available around 400k JPY and below. I think more importantly than getting a blade right now is, if you can, figuring out what you want and why. What blades appeal to you and what ones don't and why? 

[Rhizosphere]

2 minutes ago, nulldevice said:

Signed 丹波守藤原照門 - Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado.

 

He was a Jo-Saku ranked smith and with green papers, I would assume its a gimei. 

 

For $2500, you can get a good blade, I don't think you need to feel rushed to get a signed blade with green papers. You can find a papered wakizashi, probably even signed with modern NBTHK papers for that price. 

Im looking. But remaining patient. I already got taken on one blade and returned it. Currently waiting on a refund. There wasn't a way to know the issue until i had it in hand. But i should have taken the shadyness by the seller as a hint prior to purchase

[nulldevice]

If you are near any one of the big shows in the US (Vegas, San Fran, Chicago, Orlando) you can go and see many swords ranging from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of dollars and everything in between. Personally, I'm glad I waited to attend a show and see/feel/hold/study blades in person before my first purchase. On the other hand, my budget wasn't happy that I waited as I ended up inevitably spending much more than anticipated later on, but I'm not mad about that! Most importantly, I got to see after reading lots of books and online articles what was actually quality and what wasn't in real life with knowledgeable people who could point out the differences to me and teach a newcomer like me a few important lessons. 

[John C]

50 minutes ago, Rhizosphere said:

But the price seems low.

Jimmy:

An additional consideration is that wakizashi do not generally carry the same value as a katana or even a tanto, in some cases. Primarily because many more people were allowed to carry wakizashi than were allowed to carry katana at various periods. 

John C.

[Rawa]

@Rhizosphere target current valid certificates.

Old ones in Japan where you can easily get fresh verification?

check this link:

https://new.uniquejapan.com/nbthk-nihon-bijutsu-token-hozon-kyokai-certification-paper-ranking/

 

and why old is bad

Try to tame fomo, it’s a beast in this hobby

Edited December 27, 2025 by Rawa

[Rhizosphere]

6 hours ago, John C said:

Jimmy:

An additional consideration is that wakizashi do not generally carry the same value as a katana or even a tanto, in some cases. Primarily because many more people were allowed to carry wakizashi than were allowed to carry katana at various periods. 

John C.

I may actually want a katana instead. I am in the looking and learning phase.

[Rhizosphere]

7 hours ago, nulldevice said:

Signed 丹波守藤原照門 - Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado.

 

He was a Jo-Saku ranked smith and with green papers, I would assume its a gimei. 

 

For $2500, you can get a signed blade, I don't think you need to feel rushed to get a signed blade with green papers. You can find a papered wakizashi, probably even signed with modern NBTHK papers for that price. 

 

Just looking at the big dealers (Aoi, Eirakudo, Nipponto, Touken Komachi, and others) there are dozens of signed wakizashi with Hozon and some with Tokubetsu Hozon papers right now available around 400k JPY and below. I think more importantly than getting a blade right now is, if you can, figuring out what you want and why. What blades appeal to you and what ones don't and why? 

I really would like to shop in the US if possible. At least avoid $300+ in import fees.

[Bugyotsuji]

No rush. Seeing blades in hand at sword shows is a great idea, while listening to what people say and point out.

 

Actually owning a blade can be a drag at first if you don't know what you have, and if you are not really prepared to take good care of it. Finding the right blade can often be a serendipitous event. It might even be a beautiful little tanto.

 

You might decide for example that you want a blade from a particular school or area, of a particular age, in shirasaya and then plus full koshirae perhaps, and even some more modern paperwork to go with it. Dream the dream!

[klee]

I am biased bc I enjoy sue bizen but there is a papered, signed, dated Sukesada for under 3000 usd in the for sale section if you want muromachi

 

I would never in million years spend $2000+ on a green paperer wak over something like that

[John C]

8 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Actually owning a blade can be a drag at first if you don't know what you have, and if you are not really prepared to take good care of it.

Never thought of it like that, Piers. It's kind of like owning a pure bred puppy. It needs to be comfortable and clean; not too hot and not too cold; papered and even taken to shows, if the pedigree is good enough; missed when it eventually passes on, though replaced with a new loved puppy - and it starts all over.

 

John C.

[Jean]

A topic I started years ago. 

forget green paper. No new certificates=no certificates

[Brian]

Very wise words, and worth reading a few times.

[Mark]

Check Grey Doffin's site https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/item-category/swords/

he has several Wakizashi in that price range with modern NBTHK papers and some with koshirae

Grey is known here and a great guy to deal with

 

[Rhizosphere]

On 12/27/2025 at 12:23 AM, Bugyotsuji said:

No rush. Seeing blades in hand at sword shows is a great idea, while listening to what people say and point out.

 

Actually owning a blade can be a drag at first if you don't know what you have, and if you are not really prepared to take good care of it. Finding the right blade can often be a serendipitous event. It might even be a beautiful little tanto.

 

You might decide for example that you want a blade from a particular school or area, of a particular age, in shirasaya and then plus full koshirae perhaps, and even some more modern paperwork to go with it. Dream the dream!

I would definately prefer in koshirae but if I found the right blade I would take it in shirasaya. I am a fan of the Hizen schools as another gentlmen mentioned in these coments. I love the little tight grain. I know people decribe it as "rice grain". But it reminds me of a fine layer of oily soap suds on top of water. 

[Rhizosphere]

On 12/27/2025 at 9:13 AM, John C said:

Never thought of it like that, Piers. It's kind of like owning a pure bred puppy. It needs to be comfortable and clean; not too hot and not too cold; papered and even taken to shows, if the pedigree is good enough; missed when it eventually passes on, though replaced with a new loved puppy - and it starts all over.

 

John C.

As long as the blade is oiled every few weeks, kept in low humidity and out of UV light it should be good right? 

[eternal_newbie]

Just now, Rhizosphere said:

As long as the blade is oiled every few weeks, kept in low humidity and out of UV light it should be good right? 

 

Yes. And depending on what your local climate is like, it may not even need to be oiled that often (I live in a place with constant droughts and hot, dry summers and I can get away with oiling every 1-2 years).

[Rhizosphere]

1 minute ago, eternal_newbie said:

 

Yes. And depending on what your local climate is like, it may not even need to be oiled that often (I live in a place with constant droughts and hot, dry summers and I can get away with oiling every 1-2 years).

I live in the midwest. We have ALL the extremes. I use 2 dehumidifers in the spring and summer. 

[John C]

3 hours ago, Rhizosphere said:

every few weeks

It shouldn't take that much. I would suggest every 4 to 6 months, depending on humidity. Where I live it's once a year. I have a dresser I use as a sword tansu and keep reusable dessicant packs in the drawer.

 

John C.

[Mark]

if your in the midwest you could wait for the Chicago show and see hundreds of swords in hand. see before you buy.  

[Rhizosphere]

On 12/27/2025 at 7:53 AM, klee said:

I am biased bc I enjoy sue bizen but there is a papered, signed, dated Sukesada for under 3000 usd in the for sale section if you want muromachi

 

I would never in million years spend $2000+ on a green paperer wak over something like that

Who is offering this sword. I cannot seem to find it.

[eternal_newbie]

4 minutes ago, Rhizosphere said:

Who is offering this sword. I cannot seem to find it.