Fakes aren't just about antique swords

A few days ago, a customer sent a message to Tozando along with images of a katana with an engraved signature, which he wanted to know if it was genuine or not. He had apparently purchased the katana from a world-renowned Internet auction site and wanted us to determine if it was authentic. We do not normally provide such a service, but the situation was so unacceptable that we would like to share it here so that you too do not buy inferior fakes.

Signature

This first image is of that fake nakago. It has "Mikami Sadanao Saku" engraved on it.

Next, here are images of the real Sadanao piece on display at our modern fine art Japanese sword gallery in Kyoto, Gallery Tozando. The first one is a katana and the second is a tanto.

The comparison is quite obvious. First of all, the chisel used to engrave the name is completely different, so the angle, depth, and thickness of the engraving are different.

Yasurime

Also, the rasping method of the nakago is different: the real one is rasped by hand, while the fake one is clearly rasped by a machine. Note also the parts shown with the sword blade. The mekugi is so crude that it appears to be half broken, and looking at the surface, it is doubtful that it is even made of bamboo. Sadanao, a master craftsman, would never use such parts.

Habaki

The equipped habaki, which is shown there as well, is a copper-casting and still has burrs (casting marks) from the process. Its surface is scratched and its edges are also discolored. No modern swordsmith would have equipped the blade with such crude parts.

Seppa

Look at the seppa. As you may know, a pair of seppa is a set of two pieces, but the two edges of the seppa in the image do not match each other at all. It is common for antique swords to have two different edges as a result of the age of the sword, but this is not possible with modern fine art Samurai swords.

Let's look further at the sashiura side. The top of the yasuri-me is roughly finished. Looking more closely, you can see rust, discoloration, and many scratches. I once visited a factory outside of Japan where fake Japanese swords are mass-produced to investigate the current situation, and these swords look exactly like the ones I saw there.

I have actually shown these images to the swordsmith, Mikami Sadanao himself and while he laughs, I am sure he would be displeased that this level of quality is considered his work. In addition, the All Japan Sword Artisans Association has received reports of fakes by such swordsmiths as Ohno Yoshimitsu.

Definition of Japanese Sword

Currently, the Agency for Cultural Affairs defines a Japanese sword as being made of tamahagane, folded and forged and then quenched in accordance with traditional Japanese methods, By doing so, thanks to the great efforts of our predecessors after World War II, Japanese swords were not destroyed or confiscated, and a registration system was established for them as fine art swords, allowing them to be produced, owned, and sold even today. In other words, buying authentic Japanese swords is the only way to ensure that the tradition of Japanese sword making, which has been passed down for over a millennium, will continue into the future.

If you purchase a modern fine art sword from Tozando, we will issue a certificate for any swordsmith work that belongs to the All Japan Swordsmith Association. In addition, for an additional fee, The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture (NBSK) will also issue a certificate for newly made Japanese swords(called Shinsakuto) by your request. If you want to buy a genuine modern fine art Japanese sword, be sure to buy from a reputable store.

Want to buy authentic Samurai swords directly from Japan? Then TOZANDO is your best partner!