NBTHK
NIHON BIJUTSU TOKEN HOZON KYOKAI
The Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords
The NBTHK concerns itself with the preservation of Japanese Art Swords and Kodogu. This includes the inspection and certification of such items. Every year they hold several inspection meetings called ‘Shinsa’. Collectors may hand their items in for Shinsa to receive one of the following certificates:
- Hozon
- Tokubetsu Hozon
- Juyo
- Tokubetsu Juyo
To acquire a certain rank of certificate a piece first has to receive the rank below that one, which means any item without certificates has first to get Hozon papers. It is possible to directly apply for Tokubetsu Hozon though and it saves some money in case the item achieves that rank. Additionaly, an item can receive ‘Horyu’ which is not a rank, it means that the Shinsa members were not sure about an attribution and that the item would have to handed in again to receive a certificate. However, the outcome afterwards is not clear and it has been seen that items received Horyu several times in a row.
If you like to hand in items to the Shinsa, we are happy to support you. Below please see the applicable price list.
NBTHK sword fitting certificates price list
For sword-fitting appraisal by the NBTHK in Tokyo via Tsuba.info. Shipping costs excluded. In some cases the NBTHK will give the verdict ‘horyu’ which means they cannot decide at the current stage about the item. We will charge 3000 JPY if the item receives horyu.
certificate rank | fail | pass |
---|---|---|
Hozon | 11000 JPY | 24000 JPY |
Tokubetsu Hozon | 11000 JPY | 40000 JPY |
Hozon & Tokubetsu Hozon * | 11000 JPY | 56000 JPY |
Juyo | 40000 JPY | 160000 JPY |
Tokubetsu Juyo | 30000 JPY | 300000 JPY |
* In case of application for Hozon & Tokubetsu Hozon only achieving Hozon, the price for failing Tokubetsu Hozon applies additionally.
For an attribution of Horyu, a service charge of 3000 JPY will be applied.
NBTHK sword certificates price list
For sword appraisal by the NBTHK in Tokyo via Tsuba.info. Shipping costs excluded. A service fee of 51000 JPY applies for import, registration, deregistration and export procedures, for swords which are shipped to Japan from abroad. In some cases the NBTHK will give the verdict ‘horyu’ which means they cannot decide at the current stage about the item. We will charge 3000 JPY if the item receives horyu.
certificate rank | fail | pass |
---|---|---|
Hozon | 15000 JPY | 35000 JPY |
Tokubetsu Hozon | 15000 JPY | 45000 JPY |
Hozon & Tokubetsu Hozon * | 15000 JPY | 70000 JPY |
Juyo | 45000 JPY | 270000 JPY |
Tokubetsu Juyo | 60000 JPY | 400000 JPY |
* In case of application for Hozon & Tokubetsu Hozon only achieving Hozon, the price for failing Tokubetsu Hozon applies additionally.