State of the Sword Market

[MassiveMoonHeh]

Noted this post from @toushin1 at https://www.nihontou.jp/ on X and thought it worth seeing what others are experiencing in their recent interactions with the Japanese Sword and Tsuba Market. Are you buying? Are you selling? Have you noticed swords are moving or prices are rising?Having you noticed a shift in market sentiment in the west or in Japan? Worth finding out what others think.

 

美術刀剣 刀心:

 

"Recently, the market price of Japanese swords has been rising again.

 

While inflation and other cost increases are contributing factors, I personally believe that increased overseas demand is a major driving force behind the price increase.

 

Our sword shop is small, so we don't experience this to the same extent, but from what I've heard from various people, larger sword shops seem to be selling a considerable number of swords overseas.

 

The weaker yen has increased the purchasing power of people overseas, leading to a rise in demand and prices.

 

In recent years, it's estimated that several thousand to 10,000 swords leave Japan each year and go to people overseas.

 

I think it's very gratifying that people overseas are showing interest in Japanese swords, which can be considered symbols of Japanese spirit and culture.

 

Furthermore, considering the current situation in Japan where interest in Japanese culture and swords has waned and fewer people own them, I feel it's wonderful that people overseas are purchasing and cherishing them.

 

On the other hand, I worry that if this continues, excellent Japanese swords will become unattainable for Japanese people.

 

 Or perhaps, the future where people travel abroad to admire famous Japanese swords... I fear that such a future may be closer than we think.

 

In order to prevent Japanese swords, which can be considered the very soul of Japanese culture, from becoming something distant, I hope that more people will learn about them, actually touch them, and become interested in them.

 

We will do our best, however small our contribution may be, and we would be grateful for your support.

 

#ProtectJapan #MadeInJapan #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseSword #JapaneseSoul"

[Marcin]

5 hours ago, MassiveMoonHeh said:

Noted this post from @toushin1 at https://www.nihontou.jp/ on X and thought it worth seeing what others are experiencing in their recent interactions with the Japanese Sword and Tsuba Market. Are you buying? Are you selling? Have you noticed swords are moving or prices are rising?Having you noticed a shift in market sentiment in the west or in Japan? Worth finding out what others think.

 

美術刀剣 刀心:

 

"Recently, the market price of Japanese swords has been rising again.

 

While inflation and other cost increases are contributing factors, I personally believe that increased overseas demand is a major driving force behind the price increase.

 

Our sword shop is small, so we don't experience this to the same extent, but from what I've heard from various people, larger sword shops seem to be selling a considerable number of swords overseas.

 

The weaker yen has increased the purchasing power of people overseas, leading to a rise in demand and prices.

 

In recent years, it's estimated that several thousand to 10,000 swords leave Japan each year and go to people overseas.

 

I think it's very gratifying that people overseas are showing interest in Japanese swords, which can be considered symbols of Japanese spirit and culture.

 

Furthermore, considering the current situation in Japan where interest in Japanese culture and swords has waned and fewer people own them, I feel it's wonderful that people overseas are purchasing and cherishing them.

 

On the other hand, I worry that if this continues, excellent Japanese swords will become unattainable for Japanese people.

 

 Or perhaps, the future where people travel abroad to admire famous Japanese swords... I fear that such a future may be closer than we think.

 

In order to prevent Japanese swords, which can be considered the very soul of Japanese culture, from becoming something distant, I hope that more people will learn about them, actually touch them, and become interested in them.

 

We will do our best, however small our contribution may be, and we would be grateful for your support.

 

#ProtectJapan #MadeInJapan #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseSword #JapaneseSoul"

At Aoi we had announcement that prices goes up. Every blade is different. But no wonder that prices goes up as yen is in deep hole and it only started.

Dollar isn’t in great spot itself…

Yen to dollar chart:

[jawob]

As a casual observer, with no stats to back me up, it seems good blades at 9k and up are moving. The middle level stuff is sitting and the low end seems to be scooped up.

[Toki]

I dont have much experience yet, but I agree with Jeff. Over the past year or so I have been searching for a nice piece from the Kamakura era that peaks my interest. Plenty of Items on my wishlist sold out quickly over the past few months, most of them between 7 - 10kEuros. Some were sitting on sites for years making me think I have time to consider carefully which one to get and suddenly a lot of them were gone. Made me impulse buy a cheap Tanto I really really liked.

[Lukrez]

 

 

Thanks Brett, if I’m not mistaken there have already been some good posts on price development depending on tier level. From an orthodox perspective, it already operates on multiple overlapping levels.

 

If anyone is interested, this has definitely helped me better understand the underlying practices in the art world, and more broadly how similar mechanisms appear across different fields of art:

the anatomy of the dispute between Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, the so-called “Monaco affair.”

 

In conclusion, I’d quote an experienced art dealer: “What is the true value of a work? Who the xxxx knows.”