[Greeting]
2024 became an important year for the promotion of Japanese sword culture overseas. In November, we held the, Samurai Art Exhibition: the Beauty of Japanese Swords, in Belgrade, Serbia. In December, we held the Japan-Taiwan Cultural Exchange Signing and Opening Ceremony with Soochow University in conjunction with the establishment of our Taiwan branch. This year from June 7th, we are planning to hold the, 15th Newly Made Japanese Sword Craftsmens’ Exhibition, at Sakakimachi Museum of Tetsu in Nagano. This will be followed by a second venue from late October, when we will be exhibiting at Meiji Shrine Treasure Museum for the first time in three years.
We would like to continue our efforts to embrace the current Japanese sword boom that is attracting much attention, and use it to accurately and convey Japanese sword culture as widely as possible. We are grateful for all your enquiries we have received regarding repair, sword polishing and how to report the discovery of unregistered swords. Our role as a Public Foundation is to contribute to the promotion of culture and the arts. We promote this through Japanese swords. To that end, we hold training sessions for swordsmiths and teach them traditional sword making techniques.
In recent years, Japanese swords have become highly appreciated overseas, and there is a strong desire for opportunities to enjoy their unparalleled value. We want to not only protect traditions and heritage, but also actively respond to domestic and international expectations. As part of our role as a Public Foundation we issue verification certificates (Newly Made Japanese Sword Certificates) for modern Japanese swords in order to address the growing problem of counterfeits and non-Japanese replicas among modern swords. As a result, we have received requests for issuance of these certificates from sword dealers and collectors alike. The significance of these certificates is increasing year by year.
Japanese swords were once the very backbone of Japanese culture, a mirror that reflected the soul of the Japanese people. We hope to enrich people’s hearts through the promotion of Japanese sword culture. We provide opportunities for people to hold Japanese swords directly and feel closer to them through our public viewing events and exhibitions of sword craftsmanship, including newly made Japanese swords, their polishing and mountings, etc.
Japanese sword culture is an intellectual property and beautiful tradition cultivated throughout Japan’s history that is also imbued with spirituality. We believe that it is our responsibility as the current generation that inherits the traditions and culture of genuine Japanese swords, and face the challenges that adapts them to modern times, by making them appealing to the world at large, and a treasure for all humanity.
We would like to continue to work to promote Japanese sword culture together with many people who hold the same aspirations. We appreciate and look forward your continued understanding and support.
President Yanai Shunji
January 2025
[Board members of The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture (NBSK)]
- President, Special adviser and Counselors
| President | Yanai Shunji | Former Ambassador to the USA, Judge: International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea |
| Special adviser | Kawabata Terutaka | Advisor: The Association for the Research and Preservation of Japanese Helmets and Armor , President: Honganji Japonisme Academy, Visiting Professor: Kanazawa Institute of Technology |
| Honorary Chairman | Hon’ami Koshu | National Living Treasure Japanese Sword Polisher |
| Consultants | Gassan Sadatoshi | Swordsmith, Consultant: The All Japan Swordsmiths Association, Intangible Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture |
| Consultants | Takayama Kazuyuki | Master Sword Mountings Artisan, Nationally Appointed Conservationist of National Treasures, Advisor: The Society for the Preservation of Sword Mounting Techniques |
- Board of Trustees
| Iida Yoshio | CEO: Iida Koendo Co., Ltd Head Director; All Japan Sword Traders Association |
| Ito Toshiro | Sword collector, former president of Secretary Center Co., Ltd. |
| Ito Masanobu | Rep: Mark’s Guide, Former Director: Mitsui & Co. |
| Inami Kenichi | CEO:JAPAN SWORD Co., Ltd |
| Kawachi Ippei | Swordsmith, Director: All Japan Swordsmiths Association |
| Nishikawa Mitsuo | Lawyer, Sword Enthusiast |
| Hasegawa Akihiko | Sword Enthusiast, President & CEO: Sankei Giken Kogyo Co., Ltd |
| Hiruta Michiko | Antique Dealer |
| Paul Martin | Former Curator: British Museum, Japanese Sword Specialist |
- Board of Directors and Inspectors
| Chairman of the board of Director | Ono Yoshimitsu | Master Japanese Swordsmith |
| Managing Director | Watanabe Yoshio | President & CEO WATAKI Co., Ltd, Vice-President: Kokusai Tosogu Kai |
| Executive Directors | Koga Makio | Special-Consultant for Japan Airport Buildings, Senior-Advisor: Morgan Stanley Securities |
| Executive Directors | Miyairi KozaemonYukihira | Master Japanese Swordsmith, Chairman: All Japan Swordsmiths Association |
| Executive Directors | Hasegawa Masashi | Sword Enthusiast, President: Sankei Giken Holdings Co., Ltd |
| Executive Directors | Watanabe Tsunetsugu | Japanese Sword Polisher |
| Directors | Kamata Kimiko | Manga Writer |
| Directors | Kumasaka Takamitsu | Advisor: Sankei Shimbun Co.,Ltd |
| Directors | Kenmochi Naotoshi | Master Sword Mountings Maker |
| Directors | Hirano Nobuo | Sword Enthusiast, President & CEO Bless You |
| Directors | Fukami Nobuhiko | Ginza Choshuya Co.,Ltd Head Director |
| Directors | Hon’ami Masao | Japanese Sword Polisher, Sword Licensing Officer for the City of Tokyo |
| Directors | Mori Takahiro | Master Sword Mountings Maker |
| Inspectors | Sasatsu Mitsugu | Sword Enthusiast, Vice-CEO: Conti |
| Inspectors | Tsukada Hideki | WATAKI Co., Ltd,Former Managing Executive Officer |
- Curator
| Ikuta Kyoko | Former curator: Gakushuin University Museum of History Researcher: Kokusai Tosogu Kai |
- Researcher
| Paul Martin | Former Curator: British Museum, Japanese Sword Specialist |
- Head Office Secretary General
| Takamori Kunihiko | Head Secretariat |
[Mission statement]
Purposes and Activities of The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture (NBSK)
This foundation contributes to the conservation of Japanese swords, the training of sword craftsmen and endeavours to develop Japanese sword culture with the spirit and intention of protecting the cultural properties of Japan. The NBSK contributes to the promotion of Japanese culture both inside and outside Japan. To accomplish the above purposes, it is our intention to implement the activities described below.
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Conserve traditional sword craftsmanship and foster its successors.
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Host sword exhibitions, training courses of sword craftsmanship, lecture meetings, etc.
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Research traditional craftsmanship and collect relevant data and present papers.
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Promote the traditional culture of Japan.
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Create publications to distribute information related to Japanese sword culture, traditional craftsmanship and Japanese culture.
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Other activities to accomplish the mission of the foundation.
Current activities serving for public interest
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Support to the training courses for swordsmiths and other craftsmen.
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Sword and tosogu (sword fittings) appreciation meetings.
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Training course of sword and tosogu handling for museum curators.
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Co-host the Omamori-katana Exhibition with the All Japan Swordsmiths Association.
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Co-host sword fittings exhibitions and international symposiums with the Kokusai Tosogu Kai (KTK).
- Host an annual competition and exhibition of swordsmiths and other sword craftsmen.