NTHK-NPO Certification Rankings for Japanese Swords (日本刀保存会)

The NTHK-NPO – Nihon Token Hozon Kai, or the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword – is in some respects the elder statesman of Japanese sword certification. Founded in 1910 during the Meiji period, it predates the NBTHK by nearly forty years. Its head office is in Meguro, Tokyo, with a number of branch offices around the world.

The NTHK-NPO is a non-profit organisation that exists to promote, study and preserve the Japanese sword and its related arts. It is an independent body and its certificates carry genuine weight in the collecting world – particularly for fittings, koshirae and tosogu, where its turnaround time and monthly shinsa schedule make it the practical choice for many submissions. At Unique Japan we work regularly with both the NTHK-NPO and the NBTHK, and the two organisations complement each other well.

A note on factions: following the passing of the late Yoshikawa-sensei, the NTHK split into two separate organisations. This article concerns the NTHK-NPO only, which is the body we work with at Unique Japan.

Shinteishô is an auxiliary certificate, the first of the three NTHK-NPO levels. It is reserved for swords where the signature (mei) on the tang has been judged to be authentic, but where the overall condition of the blade is not sufficient to warrant a full Kanteisho. Think of it as a signature guarantee rather than a full endorsement of the sword’s quality.

It is a useful certificate in specific circumstances – particularly for swords that have been polished down or show significant wear, where the signature matters but the blade itself is not in a state to be fully assessed. It is not a common certificate and should not be confused with Kanteisho.

Kanteishô is the main and most commonly seen certificate from the NTHK-NPO. It is issued for swords of considerable quality where the signature is authenticated, or in the case of unsigned (mumei) blades, where the judges offer their considered opinion on the school or smith responsible.

One of the most distinctive features of the Kanteishô is the level of detail it provides. The certificate contains a generous amount of descriptive information about the blade’s characteristics – hamon type, jihada, sugata, nakago condition, period attribution and more. In this respect it is notably more descriptive than a comparable NBTHK Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon certificate, which tends to be more concise in its format.

Perhaps most significantly, the Kanteishô bears the personal hankô (stamp) of each judge who assessed the piece. In the example above, four judges individually attest to the information recorded on the certificate. That level of transparency and personal accountability is, in my experience, genuinely refreshing – and it is one of the reasons I respect the NTHK-NPO process.

Unique Japan translates all NTHK-NPO certificates into English for clients as standard.

Kanteisho is also issued for koshirae, tsuba and individual tosôgu (sword fittings). The certificate above is for a fine Mino tradition set of fuchi-kashira.

This is where the NTHK-NPO is particularly well suited. For fittings submissions – tsuba, fuchi-kashira, menuki, kozuka, kogai and full koshirae – the NTHK-NPO’s monthly shinsa schedule, reasonable fees and detailed certificates make it the natural first choice. At Unique Japan we submit the majority of our fittings to the NTHK-NPO, reserving the NBTHK for exceptional pieces where the client is willing to wait and the piece clearly warrants the higher process.

Yûshûsaku – “Highly Excellent” – is the highest distinction awarded by the NTHK-NPO, issued for swords of outstanding quality in terms of condition, artistry and academic significance. The shinsa for Yûshûsaku (sometimes referred to as ‘Yûshûto) is held once a year, in December, and only the finest pieces submitted during that session will receive the designation.

Every sword awarded Yûshûsaku is photographed and featured in the printed NTHK-NPO journal – a permanent record of distinction that travels with the sword’s provenance.

Yushusaku is a particularly valuable submission target for swords that have achieved Tokubetsu Hozon from the NBTHK but have not yet been put forward for Jûyô – or for swords that have attempted Jûyô and fallen short. A Yûshûsaku result is a respected and meaningful distinction in its own right, and one we actively pursue for qualifying pieces on behalf of our clients.

One of the most practical advantages of the NTHK-NPO over the NBTHK is the frequency of its shinsa sessions. The NTHK-NPO holds shinsa almost every month of the year, making it considerably more accessible for clients who need a faster result or cannot wait for a specific annual window.

As with NBTHK submissions, Unique Japan manages the entire process on your behalf – import of the sword/fittings to Japan, physical submission, result collection and feedback, and English translation of the certificate. If you have a sword or fittings you would like to submit, please get in touch and we will advise on the whole process and costs.

The NTHK-NPO and the NBTHK are two independent organisations with different strengths, and the two are not in competition – they can complement each other. Here is how we think about them at Unique Japan:

If you are unsure which organisation is most appropriate for your piece, please contact us. We will give you an honest assessment and a clear recommendation.