MassiveMoonHeh Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 Why has the Agency for Cultural Affairs not created more National Treasure or Juyo Bunkazai swords? Certainly in the last 40 years there have been a few Tokubetsu Juyo blades that would more than qualify to meet and even exceed this status when compared to other swords at this designation. This puzzled me. Whilst National Treasures designations have always been hard to come by and nothing has really changed since the latest 110/12 list was created in June 9, 1951... The Agency for Cultural Affairs use to issue Juyo Bunakazai for swords on a pretty regular basis after that date for almost 40 years and then they stopped. Since then there has only been one new Juyo Bunakazai sword allocation in the last 40 years... but why? I did a little digging and found out why the Agency for Cultural Affairs have been reluctant to award any new National Treasure or Juyo Bunkazai to swords. Back in 1989 there was an incident that caused national outcry, when the Agency awarded five "ancient" (Jokoto) swords as Juyo Bunkazai but it turned out that these swords were forged by a swordsmith called Tokukatsu Nakahara. He even confessed to it but died before the investigation could begin. The Agency did open an investigation but after the appointed committee investigating the incident, even though skeptical, could not conclusively prove the swords were real or fake, the Agency stuck to its guns and continued to affirm their intial assesement and decision was correct. Honma Junji however disagreed and before he died insisted that all five swords were fake and that they should be struck off as Juyo Bunkazai. Since this incident the Agency has opted to avoid any further scrutiny until 2018 some almost 30 years from the 1989 incident when a new Juyo Bunkazai status was awarded to, ironically, five naginata along with their accompanying mountings owned by the Nikko Futarasan Shrine - they were classified as "Ritual Weapons". No new Juyo Bunakazai have been issued since. Basically it appears that the reason why we have seen only one new Juyo Bunkazai set of swords in almost 40 years is because the Agency of Cultural Affairs is still embarrassed and cannot/ will not address this embarrassment... and is reluctant to put itself in that situation again. 5 Quote
Hoshi Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 Hi, This is an delicate topic. Swords do get elevated to Juyo Bunkazai, albeit rarely. As far as I know, 3 Tokuju blades have been subsequently elevated to Juyo Bunkazai. As you rightly point out, there are many Tokuju swords deserving of the Juyo Bunkazai designation (The Tokuju "long tail" is vast, and arguably goes all the way to National Treasure). Amongst them, the famous Osafune Mitsutada ken. Owners of top Tokuju blades, however, are uninterested in upgrading the status of the blade to Juyo Bunkazai. This is because ownership becomes a burden, you have a duty to exhibit, and your home will be inspected by police officers to ensure proper care is taken, and the state gains the right of first refusal on any transaction. Any increase in value from the designation becomes subject to the 40% Japanese capital gain tax, and you are obliged to report the sales in a world where discretion prevails. As the Uesugi family council once said "these laws smell of communism" - and this attitude still exists today. This is why the Mikazuki Kanemitsu, along other masterpieces, never got the designation. The trend has been the opposite: Juyo Bunkazai blades "get lost" over time. As always, follow the incentives. Best, Hoshi 7 2 Quote
MassiveMoonHeh Posted March 24 Author Report Posted March 24 Hoshi - once again on the money bud. Why sign up for all the burdens without the perks? 1 Quote
ChrisW Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 A fascinating topic. It could also be that they are afraid that they're not able to tell apart the top quality real blades apart from the top quality fakes... as seen in the example you gave us. So rather than open the floodgates, they admit very sparingly only blades with pedigrees that are beyond reproach. Also... 3 hours ago, Hoshi said: Amongst them, the famous Osafune Mitsutada ken. I would love to see any pictures of this blade as this is the first time I've heard of it... and I LOVE ken blades. ~Chris Quote
Sebuh Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 1 hour ago, ChrisW said: A fascinating topic. It could also be that they are afraid that they're not able to tell apart the top quality real blades apart from the top quality fakes... as seen in the example you gave us. So rather than open the floodgates, they admit very sparingly only blades with pedigrees that are beyond reproach. Also... I would love to see any pictures of this blade as this is the first time I've heard of it... and I LOVE ken blades. ~Chris Hi Chris, check your inbox sent them there! Quote
Brano Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 1 hour ago, ChrisW said: A fascinating topic. It could also be that they are afraid that they're not able to tell apart the top quality real blades apart from the top quality fakes... as seen in the example you gave us. So rather than open the floodgates, they admit very sparingly only blades with pedigrees that are beyond reproach. Also... I would love to see any pictures of this blade as this is the first time I've heard of it... and I LOVE ken blades. ~Chris This Ken was donated to NBTHK by Mr. Soichi Suzuki It was exhibited last year at NBTHK Here you can find some photos and a video (use move right) https://eu.zonerama.com/Nihonto/Photo/14112229/575662093 1 Quote
Lewis B Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 (edited) For anyone with FB. Here are Shiotsuna's images of the Mitsutada Ken. What I don't get is why the plaque said it's the only known sword by Mitsutada, there are others. Maybe the only known Ken. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2025021488070415&set=a.2025022978070266 And the koshirae Edited March 24 by Lewis B 1 Quote
nulldevice Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 This ken is featured in one of the English Touken Bijutsu shared here on NMB 1768361006031.pdf 2 1 Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 Very interesting information Brett I had not heard that before but that is extremely interesting. All of these 5 seem to be privately owned in Fukushima prefecture and they are indeed the last swords designated as Jūyō Bunkazai. I have visited Futarasan Jinja several times and have been lucky to see many of their amazing ōdachi and naginata. I have visited few times since they have made these naginata Jūyō Bunkazai as part of the Mikoshi set. Unfortunately so far both times I have just seen the 2 Hōjōji naginata on display, haven't yet seen the other 3. Hopefully some year I can see them too. Still I must say that individually I wouldn't think these items would be quality or historical importance needed to achieve Jūyō Bunkazai but as a part of the set I understand it. I do think the Jūyō Bunkazai panel could also be extremely biased. Ōyamazumi jinja is one of my favorite places in Japan and they do house the most impressive naginata collection in the world. However all their Jūyō Bunkazai naginata are just all grouped under weapons dedicated to the shrine category in 1966. Yet all viable swords are individually classified as Bunkazai or National Treasures. Of course as a ōdachi and naginata fan my view is biased but I would see their naginata as extremely important historical items, even more so than the swords the shrine has. Yes they do have several ōdachi too, 2 of which are National Treasures. Yes both of them are absolutely wonderful swords, but still there are some amazing unclassified ōdachi in the shrine collection too. 1 1 Quote
Gakusee Posted March 24 Report Posted March 24 The JuBi Mitsutada Ken (only known by him) has a sort of Awataguchi finesse and feeing to it. Not a particularly exciting hamon for a Mitsutada but sublime jigane … 3 1 Quote
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