Choosing Japanese Swords Online — How to Read Product Photographs and Specification Listings

Why Choosing Swords Online Is Difficult

Every Japanese sword is a unique piece in which the shape, jigane, hamon, and condition of the nakago all differ, and no two are alike even among works by the same tōkō from the same period. While this is true of antiques and works of art in general, in the case of Japanese swords the core of evaluation lies in elements such as the degree of sori, the difference between motohaba and sakihaba (the flare), the activities of the hamon, and the texture of the jigane — all of which are harder to convey through photographs alone than in person.

For this reason, when choosing a sword online, how one reads and interprets the photographs and specification listings has a major bearing on the quality of the purchasing decision. Since in-person confirmation at a physical store cannot be assumed, developing the literacy to make maximum use of photographic information is the first step toward a satisfying purchase.

What to Check in Overall Photographs

The first thing to look at is a photograph of the full blade showing the overall silhouette. The following points are the basic information for estimating the period and school.

• The position of the sori (koshi-zori, mid-sori, saki-zori)
• The ratio of motohaba to sakihaba
• The size and shape of the kissaki (inokubi-kissaki, chu-kissaki, o-kissaki, etc.)

It is also worth checking whether the overall photograph is taken with uniform brightness from tip to base, and from directly above. Photographs taken at an angle or with partial shadows can misrepresent the actual degree of sori.

One should also keep in mind that kasane (information about blade thickness) is difficult to judge from photographs. It is important to always check the numerical values for dimensions listed in the specification table — nagasa, sori, motohaba, sakihaba, and kasane — and not to rely on the visual impression alone.

Tips for Reading the Hamon and Jigane from Photographs

The hamon (the pattern on the blade edge produced by yaki-ire (quenching)) varies greatly in appearance depending on how light is applied. Whether it is suguha or a complex irregular hamon such as choji-midare or gunome-midare, it is good practice to cross-check the name of the hamon type given in the photograph caption or description against the actual photograph.

For jigane, the type of kitae-hada — itame, mokume, masame, or ayasugi-hada — is often stated in the description. However, the fine activities of the jigane (chikei, nie-utsuri, etc.) are difficult to judge fully through a screen even from enlarged photographs. If the description includes notes on condition, the presence or absence of rust, or the presence or absence of flaws, reading those carefully provides judgment material that goes beyond relying on photographs alone.

What to Check for Nakago, Mei, and Kanteisho

Photographs of the nakago (the part that fits inside the tsuka (hilt)) are an important source for checking the following points.

• Whether a mei (signature) is present
• The content of the mei
• The type of yasurime (file marks)
• The shape of the nakagojiri

Whether the sword is zaimei (signed) or mumei (unsigned) directly affects the price and assessment, so this should always be confirmed individually.

If a kanteisho (appraisal certificate) (such as a certification issued by the NBTHK, including Hozon Token and similar designations) is included, it is also worth checking whether the grade designation (Hozon Token, Tokubetsu Hozon Token, etc.) matches the maker's name and period stated on the blade itself. If a photograph of the kanteisho is provided, reading through to the certificate number and the name of the issuing organization provides further reassurance.

A Practical Perspective on Reading Specification Listings

Specification sections on product pages typically list items such as the following.

• Length (nagasa (blade length))
• Sori (curvature)
• Motohaba
• Sakihaba
• Kasane (blade thickness)
• Weight
• Period
• Province
• Presence or absence of a mei (signature)

These numerical values should be used as objective information that corrects the impression received from photographs. For example, there are cases where a photograph may look as though the sori is shallow even though the number is standard, or conversely, cases where a narrowness of sakihaba that is hard to notice in photographs becomes apparent from the figures.

The nagasa is often given alongside centimeter measurements, but it may also be expressed in the traditional Japanese sword measurement units of shaku and sun. A rough guide is as follows.

Knowing this guide makes it easier to infer the sword type from the numbers. For weight, the figure can differ substantially depending on whether it includes the koshirae (mounting) or is for the blade alone, so it is worth confirming which condition the figure is based on.

Attention is also needed with period and province listings. When the "Period" field states something like "Edo period" or "Nanbokuchō period," the nature of the information differs depending on whether it is certain information based on a dated mei inscribed on the nakago or an estimate from the shape, jigane, and hamon (an attribution). Developing the habit of distinguishing — from how the description is written — whether something is stated as definitive fact or as an assessment-based view helps avoid undue expectations or misunderstandings.

Examining Photographs and Descriptions Together

Photographs, specification listings, and descriptions each convey a single sword from a different angle. Photographs convey a visual impression, specification listings convey objective numerical values, and descriptions convey background information such as assessment-based views and provenance. Rather than relying on any one of them, cross-referencing all three and making a comprehensive judgment is the basic approach to reducing mistakes when choosing swords online.

For example, even if a photograph is taken from an angle at which the hamon is hard to see clearly, if the type of hamon is explicitly stated in the description, one can infer the character of the hamon to some degree from that. Conversely, for subjective assessments such as the individuality of the jigane or the overall beauty of the blade silhouette — which cannot be read from specification listings alone — one must rely heavily on the impression received from photographs. It is worth keeping in mind a reading approach in which the two complement each other.

When considering a purchase, the basic approach is to cross-reference both the impression from photographs and the numerical values in the specification listing, and to contact the seller if any questions arise. The habit of carefully cross-reading all three elements — photographs, descriptions, and numerical data — is the most practical way to reduce mistakes when choosing swords online.

At TOUKENZA, you can browse Japanese swords listed for sale in the online catalog and consider them based on the photographs and specification information provided. If you have any questions, you can also get in touch through the inquiry form.