What Is the Most Expensive Japanese Sword?

Japanese swords are much more than tools: they shaped the destiny of a land. They are works of art, reflecting the deep spirituality of their maker and his profound ties to an enduring philosophy. Buying a Japanese sword takes more than appreciating its cultural and historical value. It also takes a well-stocked wallet that will not be ruined by a six- or nine-figure price tag.

Of course, you can always opt for cheap imitation Japanese swords, the kind you can pick up at a local novelty shop that sells everything from fake samurai costumes to replica katanas.

Join us as we explore the monetary values of the most expensive Japanese swords in history, including the factors behind their high prices and other expensive Japanese swords of the modern era.

How experts determine the value of a samurai sword

Determining the price of a samurai sword is not a matter of assigning random numbers. Only qualified and certified Japanese sword appraisers (kantei) can put figures on price tags. Authentic Japanese swords can be appraised outside Japan through the Japanese Sword Society of Canada. It allows owners of non-Japanese swords to verify the value of their swords before buying.

So what do the kantei look at in Japanese samurai swords to determine their correct value (that is, the most appropriate or reasonable one)? Read on.

Age and historical significance

A scene from the Heian period, from the Tokyo imperial court, via Wikimedia.

As a general rule, the older a Japanese sword, the higher its value, provided the other factors remain constant. For example, a cursed Muramasa sword will be worth less than a long tachi by Amakuni Yasatsuna. Although both are among Japan's most famous swordsmiths, Yasatsuna laid the foundations of modern sword forging in Japan during the Heian period (794–1185). Meanwhile, Muramasa's creations played a decisive role during the turbulent Muromachi and Sengoku periods. Both have historical importance, though Yasatsuna's blade prevails because of its historical rarity.

Samurai sword appraisers, or kantei, assess a sword's historical context. For example, did it belong to a popular samurai clan? What about historical events or battles in which the sword played an important part? Such swords can be worth a great deal.

Almost anyone can invent a story. That is why seasoned kantei always look for verifiable documents on the ownership of a sword. For example, a sword belonging to Oda Nobunaga would be worth more than a katana belonging to a retainer or an unknown samurai. After all, he was a contemporary of Tokugawa and Toyotomi.

Swordsmith

Our article on the 15 most famous Japanese swordsmiths should give you an idea of which works might be worth a fortune. For example, a Kamakura-period sword by Masamune will always be worth more than a 20th-century creation by Toshihira Osumi.

But wait! The swordsmith's signature (mei) on the tang (nakago) can increase the sword's value. However, the kantei will check these signatures to determine their authenticity.

Sometimes Japanese samurai blades do not carry the signature of the sword's maker. Instead, these swords bear the signature of the school of manufacture. As with everything else, some schools or sword-making traditions are worth more than others. Bizen, Soshu and Yamato are examples.

Blade quality

This criterion can be very subjective. That is why only accredited kantei can assess katanas, wakizashi, tachi, tanto and other authentic Japanese swords with irreproachable objectivity. They look for an aesthetically pleasing, well-balanced shape, including the curvature of the blade (sori), the length (different Japanese swords have standard lengths) and the tip of the blade (kissaki).

The sword's differential hardening pattern is crucial because counterfeits often have an acid-etched hamon. This artistic element can look authentic to a layperson's eye. That is why kantei are needed for sword appraisal. They can assess the sword's artistic elements. For example, a choji or midare hamon can give the sword a higher value, provided all the other attributes are perfect.

Most novice buyers think a shiny sword is essential. However, the best Japanese swords need the right polish to enhance the visibility of their hamon and of the grain of the steel, or hada. Over-polished or badly polished swords are not worth much.

Condition of the sword

Do you think a rusty sword will fetch a million pounds? And what about a blade that is badly chipped or damaged? The physical condition of the Japanese sword is crucial in determining its value.

For example, well-preserved swords with minimal signs of wear, rust or damage bring immense value to those blades. Sword restorers play a crucial role in improving the value of old Japanese swords that are badly damaged, rusted or worn, bringing them as close as possible to their original state. Poorly executed restoration work can reduce the value of a sword.

Quality of the koshirae (mountings)

Although not every old Japanese sword still has its original fittings and mountings, such as the scabbard (saya), the handle (tsuka), the sword guard (tsuba) and the handle ornaments (menuki), those that still have their koshirae must undergo a closer examination of the quality of these elements.

In general, Japanese swords of the Edo period have highly elaborate koshirae because swords of that era were celebrated as works of art. Some sword-making schools also flourished by focusing on the aesthetic qualities of a sword. For example, the Higo and Goto traditions are known for their artistically made koshirae.

Verifiable authenticity

An NBTHK Juyo Token certificate, via Unique Japan.

The word "verifiable" bears repeating, because some "enterprising" individuals can easily forge a certificate of authenticity from the Nihon Token Hozon Kai (NTHK) or the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK). They can copy an existing certificate, print it on special paper and age it to give the illusion of an authentic old document.

It is essential to verify the document's details with the NTHK or NBTHK. No documents? The certificate is fake! So do not expect to pay a high price for it.

Rarity

Japanese swords with unique characteristics or produced using experimental forging techniques are worth more than blades designed and produced without exceptional features. For example, a sword made in the zuku-kitae or kogarasu-maru style is worth more than blades forged by conventional methods.

Certain sword-making traditions and periods are often more valuable than others. For example, Yamashiro, Bizen, Mino, Soshu and Yamato are the main sword-making traditions of Japan. Their products are rare and of the highest quality, which makes their swords highly sought after.

Aesthetic and cultural value

You can forget about owning a Japanese sword designated a National Treasure, because the Japanese government is very protective of its cultural heritage. That said, swords or blades designated National Treasures that are important cultural properties can be worth millions of pounds, depending on other factors (condition, etc.).

The most expensive Japanese swords of all time

Appraising Japanese swords is a serious business, requiring the kantei to be objective in their assessments. So, having learned the various attributes that come into play in evaluating swords, what is the most expensive Japanese sword?

Fukushima Masanori Tachi: around £87 million

The Fukushima Masanori Tachi.

The Fukushima Masanori is one of the most exquisite swords in the world, just behind the British offering sword valued at around £780 million. This tachi is legendary because its owner, Fukushima Masanori, was a famous samurai, a daimyo and a retainer of one of Japan's "three great unifiers", Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It is reasonable to expect that this blade met countless battles during the later stages of the Sengoku period (1467–1615), which makes its value of around £87 million more than fitting.

Since this tachi is associated with important figures of Japanese history (Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu), its cultural value would have been considerable. It is also understandable that Masanori preferred the longer tachi to the shorter katana. It would have been difficult to cut from a mounted position with a katana.

The tachi of Fukushima Masanori would have been made by a master swordsmith or a reputed school. Otherwise, serving Toyotomi Hideyoshi would have been questionable had the tachi been built from inferior materials. Engravings on the blade, a distinct hamon and an elaborate koshirae would have made Fukushima Masanori's tachi a sight to behold.

Yamatorige (San-Cho-Mo) Tachi: around £4.4 million

The Yamatorige, by avernii on Reddit.

Here is a Japanese sword that is not as expensive as the Fukushima Masanori Tachi, but still fetches the astronomical sum of around £4.4 million. That is impressive for a tachi created in the 13th century, in the middle of the Kamakura period. The Yamatorige Tachi therefore played an important part in the rise of the samurai, ushering in a new form of government and social structure. The imperial court faded. In its place, the shogunate.

The Yamatorige is a magnificent tachi, of which historians and sword experts say the San-cho-Mo swordsmith imagined the beautiful feathers of the yamadori, or copper pheasant. Its very high-quality craftsmanship earned it the respect of sword experts and cultural scholars in the 1950s, raising its complete set of koshirae to the status of a national treasure.

Although the nakago is unsigned, historians have confirmed that the Yamatorige was created by the Ichimonji school. This sword-making tradition is recognised for its intricate and highly artistic blade patterns. Some of Japan's greatest swordsmiths (namely Norimune, Yoshifusa and Muneyoshi) came from this school. Unsurprisingly, the Yamatorige was the favourite of Uesugi Kagekatsu, head of the Uesugi clan after the death of Uesugi Kenshin. He supported Toyotomi Hideyoshi and, although he initially opposed the shogunate of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Kagekatsu became a supporter. The Yamatorige's historical ties make it a priceless Japanese sword.

Yamanbagiri Kunihiro: around £1.8 million

The Yamanbagiri Kunihiro sword, via Japanese Sword Legends.

The Yamanbagiri Kunihiro was a sword of great historical and cultural value, estimated at more than around £1.7 million. It represents a period of Japanese history in which samurai defended the interests of their lords during the Sengoku period (1467–1615). This sword worth some £1.8 million is the product of one of Japan's most famous swordsmiths, Horikawa Kunihiro, recognised by many as the first and greatest swordsmith of the Shinto era. Most interesting of all, Kunihiro was also a samurai, so he knew which blades were ideal for the field.

Lord Nagao Akinaga asked Kunihiro to reproduce the sword of the legendary swordsmith Chogi, with a thick kasane, a shallow sori and a broad, powerful sugata. The hamon showed a blend of choji-midare and o-midare to create a beautiful temper line.

It is worth noting that Kunihiro's Yamanbagiri laid the foundations of the Japanese samurai katana. The swordsmiths who succeeded him studied Kunihiro's creations and perfected his many techniques. It is not surprising that such contributions to the development of the Japanese sword earn an exceptionally high value from sword appraisers.

Okanehira Tachi: around £1.6 million

The Okanehira sword, by the Japan Cultural Properties Association, via Wikimedia.

The Okanehira is another costly Japanese sword, sold for a little under £1.8 million. It was a masterpiece tachi by the master swordsmith Kanehira of the Heian period. The Okanehira therefore predates the Fukushima Masanori Tachi by more than 800 years, which suggests this sword should be worth more than the Masanori. Whatever the case, around £1.6 million for an old sword is still significant.

Although the Okanehira Tachi was created between the 8th and 12th centuries, its main historical contribution comes from its use by Ikeda Terumasa. He was a trusted aide and general of one of Japan's "Three Great Unifiers", Oda Nobunaga, in the 16th century. This sword was used in countless battles, notably the Battle of Sekigahara, which consolidated Tokugawa Ieyasu's position as shogun and protector of Japan.

Even without the turbulent Sengoku period, the Okanehira would still be a culturally important Japanese sword. After all, it reflects the sword's transition from a mere tool to an art object. Although the Heian period is different from the Edo period, Japanese sword forging took a step forward during this time.

Kamakura katana: around £364,000

A late Kamakura katana, via Unique Japan.

This old Japanese samurai katana may not have a seven-figure price, but its maker is one of the greatest. The katana was part of a lot of 1,100 Japanese blades assembled by the late Dr Walter Ames Compton, a collector of Japanese swords, and sold at auction in 2013 for more than £7 million. Although there were other interesting Japanese blades in the lot, none generated more excitement and buzz than this Kamakura-period katana.

The Kamakura is of great cultural value because it is one of the six surviving creations of Goro Nyudo Masamune (seven if people manage to recover the Honjo Masamune). Masamune is Japan's greatest swordsmith, with the government and cultural organisations awarding the Masamune Prize to the country's best swordsmiths. That says a lot about the man.

The Kamakura katana played a crucial role in Japanese history, from Miyamoto Musashi's famous sword duel with Sasaki Kojiro to its acquisition by Tokugawa Ieyasu. These historical events elevate the Kamakura katana from a mere masterpiece of Japan's greatest swordsmith to a tangible artefact of Japanese history.

Prices of contemporary Japanese swords

If old swords cost hundreds of thousands, even millions of pounds, are new Japanese swords expensive too?

Swords forged exclusively in Japan: the nihonto

The Japanese are very protective of their traditions, notably sword-making. That is why would-be modern swordsmiths undergo many years of training and apprenticeship before they can sit a certification exam. Once the test is passed, a 21st-century swordsmith can make a maximum of two swords per month. You can therefore expect sword prices to reach around £87,000 (depending on quality), but never less than around £4,400.

Swords made outside Japan

Most of the Japanese swords we see on Amazon, eBay or in independent shops are not made in Japan. Many come from China, Vietnam and Indonesia, with varying levels of quality.

Traditional craft replicas

The only difference between a traditional craft replica sword and a nihonto is the swordsmith. Sword makers can use traditional sword-forging techniques. However, as the swordsmith needs no Japanese training or licence, sword prices are lower (around £1,300 to £8,700).

Performance replicas

These swords may be made from different materials to reduce production costs (for example, an alloy instead of tamahagane steel). They may also be machine-made, which brings the price down to between around £610 and £2,600.

Final thoughts

Authentic Japanese swords are extremely expensive, with prices ranging from a few tens of thousands of pounds to a nine-figure amount. That makes sense. After all, these swords are steeped in history and culture, and those facets of life are priceless.