How to Choose a Japanese Sword Restoration Specialist: A Practical Guide to Polishing, Shirasaya, and Fitting Repairs

What is Japanese Sword Restoration?

A Japanese sword is a composite artwork combining different materials such as metal, wood, lacquer, leather, and cord, and restoration involves multiple specialized craftspeople. The togishi (polisher) who handles the blade (steel), the sayashi (scabbard maker) who creates the saya, the koshiraeshi (furnishings craftsman) who handles the tsuka wrapping and menuki, and the shiroganeishi (metalsmith) who creates the habaki and seppa—a system where independent craftspeople collaborate to finish each sword continues to this day.

While the term "restoration" is often used indiscriminately, in reality the person commissioned depends on the purpose and target. "Polishing" to bring the hamon into a state worthy of appreciation, "shirasaya production" to create a new storage scabbard, "metal fitting repair" to remake a rusted habaki, "tsuka repair" to fix a damaged tsuka wrapping—all require specialized skill, and amateur mistakes can lead to irreversible damage.

Criteria for Selecting a Restorer—What to Verify

When selecting a restoration craftsman, the items you should verify are as follows.

1. Experience and Specialization

Just as some toggleishi specialize in foundational polishing while others excel at cosmetic polishing, each craftsman has different areas of expertise. Verify in advance whether they have experience handling Important Cultural Properties or Especially Important Swords, and whether they are familiar with blades from specific periods or schools.

2. Registration in the All Japan Sword-smiths Association and Craftsmen Registry

It is fundamental that toggleishi, sayashi, and shiroganeishi are registered with the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Check whether their name appears in industry associations (organizations around the Japan Art Sword Preservation Society).

3. Condition Assessment Before Quotation

Trustworthy craftsmen always "provide estimates only after examining the physical blade." Be cautious of craftsmen who quote a fixed price based only on photographs. It is essentially impossible to provide a price without directly assessing the blade's condition (degree of rust, edge damage, curvature deformation, etc.).

4. Handling of Appraisal Certificates

The polishing approach may change depending on whether an existing appraisal certificate exists. There are cases where re-polishing a blade with an NBTHK appraisal certificate can result in a lower evaluation upon re-appraisal.

The Process of Commissioning Polishing and Price Ranges

Commissioning a toggleishi generally follows these steps.

It begins with base polishing, where whetstones are progressively switched from coarse to fine to shape the blade. Next, finishing polishing (cosmetic polishing) brings out the expression of the hamon and jihada. In the final step, the surface is refined with polishing paper and oil, then finished with a protective oil coating.

The cost varies greatly depending on the blade's size and condition. For a tachi (blade length approximately 65-70cm) in good condition, the estimate is typically 100,000-150,000 yen, but for deep rust or cases requiring extensive repolishing (suriage), costs often double or more. Delivery time is typically 3-12 months, with longer wait times for renowned toggleishi.

Shirasaya Production and Repair in Practice

The shirasaya is a plain wooden (magnolia wood) scabbard used exclusively for storage and is essential equipment for long-term blade preservation. Neglecting a damaged shirasaya can cause stains and rust on the blade, so timely replacement is important.

The cost of shirasaya production varies with blade length, typically 20,000-50,000 yen per tachi. If it includes complete reconstruction with the tsuka section, the cost increases further.

A trustworthy sayashi measures the blade's sori (curvature) before shaping the wood, preventing accidents where the finished blade doesn't fit in the scabbard. Skilled sayashi also pay meticulous attention to wood grain direction and select material with appropriate density and moisture for long-term storage.

Precautions for Metal Fitting Repair and Reproduction

Metal fittings such as habaki, seppa, and fuchikashira are handled by shiroganeishi or metalworkers.

Habaki reproduction begins with material selection. Costs and finishes vary depending on the type—silver single habaki, gold-overlay single habaki, double habaki—etc. Typical reproduction costs for a silver habaki are around 30,000-80,000 yen.

As a precaution, the decision to repair or reproduce the original metal fittings must be made carefully. Carelessly discarding historically valuable old fittings results in losing provenance information about the blade. Especially if the blade has old koshirae from the Edo period or earlier, always consult an appraiser before deciding.

Post-Restoration Management and Re-Evaluation

After restoration is complete, it is important to store the blade in an appropriate environment (stable temperature and humidity, sword box). Immediately after polishing, blades are especially prone to rust, so regular maintenance (uchiko powder and oil coating) should not be neglected for the first 1-2 years.

If considering re-appraisal through NBTHK after restoration, it is advisable to confirm in advance with the toggleishi whether the finish can withstand appraisal scrutiny. There are reports of cases where appraisal ratings increase when cosmetic polishing by a renowned toggleishi has been performed.

While restoration is never inexpensive, commissioning appropriate craftspeople allows the blade's value to be preserved long-term. Consulting with knowledgeable sword dealers or NBTHK often leads to finding trustworthy craftspeople.