A fully bespoke koshirae (complete sword mounting) for your Japanese blade — designed with you and made by hand by Tozando's master craftsmen in Japan. Whether you already own the blade or bought it elsewhere, we mount it and deliver a single finished sword to your door. And if your sword is already in koshirae, we also make a shirasaya and tsunagi to preserve the blade — see below.

Own a blade in shirasaya? We will give it a koshirae worthy of it.

Many collectors acquire a fine antique or newly forged blade that comes only in shirasaya (a plain wooden resting scabbard) — from us, or from another Japanese dealer. A shirasaya protects the steel, but it is not made to be worn, displayed, or handled as the sword was meant to be. A koshirae — the full mounting of tsuka (hilt), tsuba (guard), saya (lacquered scabbard) and fittings — is what turns a blade into a complete, personal work of art.

Tozando, an established Japanese company, has mounted Japanese swords for generations. We coordinate the specialist craftsmen — the scabbard maker (sayashi), the hilt-wrapper (tsukamaki-shi), the lacquer artist and the fittings makers — so that every element is made to your taste and to the exact measurements of your blade.

The Tozando advantage: one export, not two

This is where being in Japan matters. If you buy a blade from a Japanese dealer, you do not need to import it, then ship it back to Japan for mounting, then import it again. Instead:

• Have your blade delivered to us in Japan — ask your dealer to send it to Tozando before it ever leaves the country (a simple domestic transfer within Japan).
• We craft your koshirae and fit it to the blade.
• We export the finished sword to you as one piece, and we arrange the required cultural-property export documentation on your behalf.

The result: you pay for one international shipment and clear customs once — with the blade fully mounted — instead of paying twice and handling paperwork twice. No other overseas dealer can offer this, because the work happens here in Japan.

Already own a blade overseas? We also accept commissions from abroad. Please allow additional time for the import process, and be sure to ship the blade to Japan fully insured. We will guide you through sending it safely.

What you can commission

Every koshirae is made to order. Typical elements you can choose include:

• Tsuka (hilt) — hand-wrapped (tsukamaki) in silk or leather ito, in your chosen colour and wrapping style, over genuine ray skin (same).
• Saya (scabbard) — hand-lacquered (urushi) in finishes such as glossy black roiro, textured ishime, ribbed kizami, or a custom colour.
• Tsuba (guard), fuchi-kashira, menuki, kojiri — antique or newly made fittings selected to a theme you love.
• Habaki (blade collar) and sageo (cord) to complete the ensemble.

We can also make a new shirasaya, re-lacquer or repair an existing koshirae, and arrange professional polishing (togi) and habaki work through our craftsmen when a blade needs it. Tell us the look you are after — refined and traditional, or bold and personal — and we will propose a design.

Already have a koshirae? Preserve the blade with a shirasaya and tsunagi

The reverse request is just as important, and we are seeing more of it. If your sword is mounted in a koshirae but you want to protect the blade for the long term, we make a custom shirasaya (a plain magnolia-wood resting scabbard) shaped precisely to your blade. Untreated honoki wood lets the steel rest safely for years, away from the lacquer and fittings of a working mounting.

So that your koshirae does not lose its shape or sit empty, we also carve a tsunagi — a wooden blade made to the exact dimensions of the real one. The tsunagi keeps the koshirae fully assembled and displayable while the blade itself rests in its shirasaya. You keep the best of both: a safe home for the steel, and a complete koshirae to display.

This is the classic set-up for serious preservation — keep a fine blade in shirasaya for storage, and display the koshirae (with its tsunagi) separately. Tell us about your sword and we will make the shirasaya, the tsunagi, or both.

From dojo-ready to museum-grade — mounted to your budget

A koshirae does not have to be a major commission. Tell us your budget and how you intend to use the sword, and we will propose fittings to match — anywhere along this spectrum:

• Practical mountings for iaido and battō — durable, well-balanced koshirae built for drawing, cutting (tameshigiri) and regular practice, using quality production fittings at an accessible price.
• Collector koshirae — antique or newly made fittings chosen around a theme, balancing beauty and value.
• Art-grade, one-off fittings by a sōken kinkō (装剣金工, master sword-fitting metal artist) — tsuba, menuki and fuchi-kashira hand-carved and inlaid to your own design, for a sword that is itself a work of art.

Whether you are a martial artist who needs a dependable blade for the dojo or a collector commissioning an heirloom, we work to your budget and your purpose.

New to koshirae and shirasaya? Our guide explains both directions in detail — mounting a blade in shirasaya, and preserving a mounted blade with a shirasaya and tsunagi: Koshirae or Shirasaya? Dressing and Preserving Your Japanese Sword →

How it works

• 1. Enquiry & quote. Send us photos of your blade, its dimensions (nagasa, sori, motohaba) and its papers/registration. We discuss your vision and provide a quotation.
• 2. Send us the blade. Have it delivered to us in Japan (recommended — see above), or arrange shipment as agreed.
• 3. Design. We finalise materials, colours, fittings and lacquer with you.
• 4. Craftsmanship. Our artisans make each part by hand and fit it precisely to your blade.
• 5. Assembly & inspection. The koshirae is assembled and checked, and we share photos before shipping.
• 6. Export & delivery. We prepare the export documentation and ship the finished, insured sword to you.

Timeline & pricing

Because every koshirae is bespoke, cost and timing depend on your purpose and the elements you choose — from an affordable, practical mounting for the dojo to an art-grade commission with one-off fittings.

• Typical production time: approximately 3 to 6 months for a full koshirae, depending on the elements you choose.
• Indicative pricing (we work to your budget):
  • Practical koshirae for iaido / battō use — quoted to your budget, using quality production fittings; a cost-effective way to make a blade safe, balanced and comfortable to handle for practice.
  • Koshirae using fittings from our in-house stock — from approx. ¥500,000 (roughly US$3,300 at current exchange rates).
  • Koshirae with one-off fittings hand-made by a sōken kinkō (master metal artist) — from approx. ¥1,000,000 (roughly US$6,600).
  • New shirasaya, koshirae repair, and professional polishing (togi) — quoted individually on request.

Prices are guide figures; USD equivalents are approximate and vary with the exchange rate. A precise quotation is provided after we see your blade and agree the design.

Why collectors trust Tozando

• A maker, not just a shop — an established Japanese company with deep roots in swords and the martial arts, coordinating true specialist craftsmen across Japan.
• End-to-end handling in Japan — receipt of your blade, mounting, and export paperwork managed for you.
• Fluent English support throughout, with clear updates and photos at each stage.
• Fully insured international shipping of the finished sword.

Frequently asked questions

Can you mount a blade I bought from another dealer?

Yes — that is exactly what this service is for. Wherever in Japan you bought your blade, have it delivered to us and we will craft its koshirae and export the finished sword to you.

Do you need the blade's registration (torokusho)?

Yes. A genuine Japanese sword travels within Japan with its registration certificate, and we use it (with your papers) to prepare the export documentation for the finished piece. We will guide you through exactly what to include.

How long does it take and what does it cost?

See Timeline & pricing above; a firm quote follows once we have seen the blade and agreed the design.

I have a sword in koshirae — can you make a shirasaya and tsunagi for it?

Yes. We make a custom shirasaya shaped to your blade for safe long-term rest, and a tsunagi (a wooden blade cut to your blade's exact dimensions) so the koshirae stays assembled and displayable. You can order the shirasaya, the tsunagi, or both.

Can you also polish or repair the blade, or make a new shirasaya?

Yes — polishing (togi), habaki, shirasaya and koshirae repair can all be arranged alongside your mounting.

Can you make an affordable koshirae for iaido or battō practice?

Yes. Alongside art-grade commissions, we make practical, well-balanced mountings for martial-arts use with quality production fittings, kept to your budget. Tell us how you intend to use the sword and what you would like to spend, and we will propose the right specification.

Can I commission one-off fittings from a metal artist?

Yes. For a true work of art we can arrange tsuba, menuki and fuchi-kashira hand-made by a sōken kinkō (master sword-fitting metal artist), carved and inlaid to your own design.

How is my blade protected while in your care?

Your blade is handled by professionals, kept insured, and returned to you fully mounted with documentation. We share photos before it ships.

Request a quote

Send us photos of your blade, its dimensions and its papers, and tell us the koshirae you envision. Contact us here and our team will reply with a proposal and quotation.

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Every koshirae is individually made to order; materials, fittings and finishes vary by commission. Final specifications, price and lead time are confirmed in your personal quotation.