[Greeting]
The system for non-profit making foundations was first introduced in 1896, over 110 years ago, by the Meiji government. On the 1st of December 2008, the Japanese government greatly revised the system and enforced a new set of laws. In December 2008, in accordance with these new laws, we established a general foundation called the Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation (Association for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture). We applied for the status of ‘Public Foundation’ to the Cabinet Office in March 2009 and was officially designated as a ‘Public Foundation’ by the prime minister in December 2009.
It is our intention to perform various activities to promote Japanese art and culture to generate public interest.
Japanese swords attract a deep interest and are highly valued outside of Japan today. We also understand that there is an intense desire to learn about their cultural value and beauty.
The Japanese Sword is a representative symbol of the culture of Japan and a mirror reflecting the soul of the Japanese. We hope to successfully promote Japanese sword culture and that people will be able to enrich their minds through the taking an interest in Japanese swords. The Japanese sword culture is an intellectual asset and concept that has been fostered and inherited throughout our history. Also we spare no effort to add new substance to this admirable tradition.
We believe that it is our obligation to succeed to the tradition and culture of the Japanese sword, which has been passed down for over a thousand years. We must also create a new value for the sword in modern society and introduce it to the world as a treasure for all human beings. We hope people who share these ideals will join us and we can take a step forward in the promotion of Japanese sword culture.
Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation
President Shunji Yanai
Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation
[Board members of the Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation(NBSK)]
- President, Special adviser and Counselors
| President | Shunji Yanai |
| Special adviser | Terutaka Kawabata |
| Counselors | Kenichi Ishikawa Shunichi Sato Akihiko Shiba Nick Nakamura Kohichi Nezu Kazumi Murose |
| Honorary Chairman | Koshu Hon’ami |
| Consultants | Kazuyuki Takayama Sadatoshi gassan |
- Board of Trustees
| Yoshio Iida Nagamasa Ikeda Koshiro Izumi Kenichi Inami Yoshimitsu Ono Kimiko Kamata Ippei Kawachi Masao Sugiyanma Mitsuo Nishikawa Michiko Hiruta Masao Hon’ami Paul Martin Tetsutaro Morii Hiroyuki Yoshida Tsunetsugu Watanabe |
- Board of Directors and Inspectors
| Chairman of the board of Director | Kuniie Yosihara |
| Managing Director | Hiroshi Miyajima |
| Executive Directors | Kazunori Abe Makio Koga KozaemonYukihira Miyairi Takeshi Miyashita Yoshio Watanabe |
| Directors | Takahiro Ono Akihira Kawasaki Kenmochi Naotoshi Nobuhiko Fukami Masashi Hasegawa Takahiro Mori Shikun Morii |
| Inspectors | Umeji Sasazu Tsukasa Takita |
- Board of Fellows
| Kazunori Abe Andrew Mancabelli Kyoko Ikuta Koshiro Izumi Kenichi Inami Yoshimitsu Ono Hisao Okabe Kazuhiko Ogawa Takahiro Ono Akihira Kawasaki Naotoshi Kenmochi Tadashi Kono Yoshitaka Shimizu Setsuo Takaiwa Tetsuya Tsubouchi Michiko Hiruta Tatsuya Fujishiro Takeshi Hon’ami Paul Martin Sadanao Mikami Takeshi Miyashita Atsuhiro Morii Tetsutaro Morii Hideo Yoshida Masaru Yoshino Tsunetsugu Watanabe |
- Special Researcher
| Kyoko Ikuta Mikio Ootaki |
- Head Office Secretary General
| Kunihiko Takamori |
[Mission statement]
Purposes and Activities of the Nihonto Bunka Shinko Kyokai Public Foundation(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-gatana 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.