TRANSLATION OF SIGNATURES

AND CERTIFICATES NBTHK - NTHK / ASSESSMENT

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YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR SABER

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Due to the increasing number of requests for translations of signatures (Mei) of Japanese sword blades and evaluations of the authenticity and value of Japanese swords, the Japanese Sword Workshop is obliged to invoice these services. 

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PRICE OF SERVICES:

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The Basics(evaluation on photos):

 

• 20€: Evaluationfast with a saber 

 

• 35€: Evaluationof a saber +Notice

 

• 55€: Translation of a signature on 1 side of the Nakago (x2, if 2 sides)

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• 75€: Translation of an NBTHK, NTHK or other certificate

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For more information and details(evaluation on photos):

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• 100€: Research on the characteristics of the blade+Translation of the entire signature (Omote/Ura)

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• 120€: Research on the characteristics of the saber,opinion and quantified estimate.

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The most complete(physical examination of the sword):

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• 160€ + return postage: Review,research on the characteristics of the saber,opinion, quantified estimate and written report.

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TRANSLATION OF "MEI": SIGNATURE ON THE BLADES ENGRAVED BY THE BLACKSMITHS:

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​​​​Please note that we do not offer Shinsa: The Shinsa is an official exam conducted by theNBTHK or other similar organization,who are the only ones authorized to establish Origami or Authentication Certificates for traditional Japanese blades. This examination makes it possible to determine if there is adequacy between the signature, the quality and the characteristics of the blade.

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NBTHKissues the following certificates:

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• HOZON TOKEN:For sabers worthy of preservation. 

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• TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN: For sabers especially worthy of preservation.

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• JUYO TOKEN: For important swords.

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• TOKUBETSU JUYO TOKEN: For especially important swords.

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​​Regarding the evaluation of signatures, it should be noted that signatures can be either Shoshin (Genuine) or Gimei (False) and that the fact that a blade is signed is not absolute proof that the blade is authentic.

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​​Reading the Mei (signatures) of Japanese swords is a very difficult task, even for us who have notions of translation.

 

Hopefully we can help you translate your blade signatures.

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For all translation requests,we always do our best to answer, as correctly and detailed as possible.

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We do not claim to be able to translate all the signatures, because there are thousands of Kanji characters that were used by the swordsmiths to engrave their signatures (Mei) on the tangs (Nakago) of the swords they had made. It is obvious that the more characters (Kanji) the signature (Mei) has, the longer and more difficult it will be to translate.

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• Signatures on Japanese sword blades vary in style and complexity. The simplest is a 2-character signature (Mei), this is just the name of the blacksmith.

 

• If the signature (Mei) has 3 characters (Kanji), the third Kanji will generally be "Saku", which means "made by", or will correspond to the name of the school of the blacksmith.    

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• If the signature (Mei) has 5 or more characters (Kanji): The preceding characters can be followed by an honorary title such as Kami or Daijo, the name of the province (which can sometimes be presented in its simplified form: the second character is replaced by Shu “Province”), the blacksmith’s family or clan name, such as Taira, Fujiwara, Tachibana, or Minamoto. The last character will usually match the nickname given to the blacksmith, followed by "Saku" (who forged this blade).

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The main types of signatures:

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• Gimei:False signature.

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• Kiritsuke-mei:Inscription engraved by someone other than the blacksmith.

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• Mumei "Unsigned": The blade may never have been signed, or may have lost the signature following a shortening.

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• Tameshi-mei: Inscription mentioning the result of a cutting test.

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BLADES AND KOSHIRAE EVALUATION:

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TERMS(Du fact that there is far too much responsibility to respond to such requests) :

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• We do not provide any guarantee on the authenticity or not of the signature.

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• We only provide an opinion on whether or not the blade is genuine. 

 

• We do not provide any guarantee on the numerical estimates.  

   

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​​EXAMPLE OF TRANSLATION:

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                 -136bad5cf58d_   _cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ B: Shū     _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58 d_   C: Osa _cc781905- 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_    D:Fune _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf5 8d_   _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ E: Suke     F: Sada

 

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      _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_   _cc781905-5cde-3194 1: Ten 5-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_2: Sho_cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_     3 : Ni _cc7819 05-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_   _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_4: Nen     5: Hachi _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_   _cc781905 7: Hi

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​ YOU WILL FIND SOME EXAMPLES OF STUDY REPORTS BELOW (THE MOST COMPLETE VERSION), WHICH WE HAVE PRODUCED FOR CUSTOMERS:

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