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Sword.ne.jp
A historical guide to the Japanese sword. Read about samurai culture and martial arts, or featured articles.
http://sword.ne.jp/snjindex.htm |
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Where to see Nihonto (Japanese Sword)
List of locations housing collections of nihonto in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. Includes links to each location.
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Palace/1135/sights.html |
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WWII Japanese Military Sword (Shin-Gunto)
Translation of a Japanese site specializing on japanese swords produced and used during World War.
http://nihontobook.homestead.com/files/gunto/ohmura.html |
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Nodachi
Information on japanese "big, thick" swords, with a photo gallery.
http://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/nodachi.html |
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Japanese Art Swords
Thomas Buck has articles on saya lacquering and tsuka-maki. Saya repair and tsuka-maki services in various styles are available.
http://pages.prodigy.net/tlbuck/sword.htm |
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Tsukamaki photographs
Catalog of photographs of the Japanese Sword Society of the United States collection of handguards.
http://home.planet.nl/~sebregts/ |
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Nihontophile
Dedicated to the preservation and collecting of Japanese swords.
http://www.nihontophile.com/ |
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Satcho Japanese Sword Books
Specialists in books related to the study and appreciation of the Japanese sword as art. Both in-print and out-of-print tiles on swords, armor, and fittings.
http://www.satcho.com/ |
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Nihonto - Japanese Sword
Information on sword appraisal. Contains articles on dating, shape and form of blades, patterning of surface, file marks and polish.
http://www.meiboku.demon.co.uk/ |
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Japan Sword Preservation Society
Nihon Token Hozon Kai (NTHK) has form for joining the organization, sword of the month exhibit, meeting schedule and links.
http://nihontoken.org/e_index.html |
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Japanese Swords Arms and Armor Home
Sales and information regarding antique Japanese swords.
http://www.japanesesword.com/ |
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Gold and Silver Sword Exhibition
A few photos of rare ancient Japanese gold and silver swords.
http://www.mediajoy.com/chikatsu/96ase/96ase_e.html |
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Nihon-To Message Board
Requires registration for posting messages but not for reading them. With information on fake Japanese swords, inscriptions and links to related pages.
http://members5.boardhost.com/Nihon-To/ |
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Nihonto.com Japanese Sword Website
Sword glossary, schools, events, equipment and supplies.
http://www.nihonto.com/ |
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Japanese Sword School
Articles on classification, taxonomy, history, appreciation, manufacture, polishing, care, use and exhibition of Japanese swords.
http://www.hi-net.zaq.ne.jp/osaru/e_index.htm |
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Japanese Military Reference
Provides information on WWII Japanese military swords.
http://quanonline.com/military/military_reference/japanese/japanese.html |
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Chris Husar's Japanese Sword Site
Information on Japanese swords, forging, and a glossary of terminology.
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/6512/index.html |
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Northern California Japanese Sword Club
A non-profit organization for the study and preservation of Japanese swords, related items and arts. Meetings are held in San Francisco's Japan Town.
http://www.ncjsc.org/ |
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Bugei Sword Discussion Forum
Public forum with section on sword appreciation, forging, use in sports, sword philosophy, samurai culture and tameshigiri.
http://www.swordforumbugei.com/ |
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Blade Fittings
Custom made tsuba and other blade fittings by Pat Hastings. Site has a picture gallery of products and ordering information.
http://www.bladefittings.com/ |
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Traditional Oshigata
A gallery of oshigata drawings of swords, short articles on Nihonto, a biography of the author and some links.
http://www.traditionaloshigata.com/ |
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The Story of the Japanese Sword
Demonstrates the process and techniques used to make Japanese swords.
http://www2.memenet.or.jp/kinugawa/english/sword/sword100.htm |
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JP Sword
Photo collection of famous swords (meito), history, swordmaking, hand guard collections, bibliography. Some items for sale.
http://www.jpsword.com/ |
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Japanese Sword Fittings
specializing on fittings and related accessories, contains a database of items and links to books, dvds and auctions.
http://www.swordfittings.com/ |
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Nihonto Random Thoughts
Articles by Dr. Takeuchi on historical and social relevance and meaning of nihonto, its use, care and crafting.
http://www2.una.edu/Takeuchi/DrT_Jpn_Culture_files/Nihon_to.htm |
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The Token Society of Great Britain
An organisation in existence for over 30 years dedicated to the study and preservation of Japanese swords, fittings and armour.
http://www.To-ken.com/ |
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Nihonto Kanji Tables
Information on deciphering the kanji characters found on Japanese swords.
http://members.westnet.com.au/whiz/richard/Kanji/Kanji.htm |
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Japanese Sword Book Museum
Comprehensive listing of hard to find books on Japanese swords and fittings, with pictures of covers.
http://www.koshoyama.com |
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Japanese Swords
Collecting information. With articles on foundries, exhibitions, swordsmiths, appraisal, purchasing, maintenance and other subjects.
http://members.cox.net/jkk/jpnzswd.htm |
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Japanese Sword Index
Collecting information relating to Japanese swords (Nihonto), including sword history, identification, care, glossaries, swordsmith profiles and translation aids for kanji inscriptions, a discussion forum, and links.
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm |
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Shoshin.com
Site on Japanese history, historical figures and accounts, women's histories, Japanese swords and appraisal, investment strategy and antique sword sales. Acrobat reader required to view much of site.
http://www.sho-shin.com/ |
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Meiboku Index and Site Guide
Information on using Japanese language software for translating the characters used in swordsmiths' signatures (mei) on tangs. With graphic depictions of the details of blade structure as well as information on cutting test inscriptions.
http://www.meiboku.demon.co.uk/guide/ |
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Japanese Sword Books
Books translated from Japanese to English for sale to students and collectors of Japanese swords.
http://www.afuresearch.com/ |
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New York Sword Club
New York Token Kai, includes information on joining the club, meetings and newsletters.
http://www.ny-tokenkai.org/ |
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Japanese Sword Society of the United States
A society concerned with the study and preservation of Japanese swords (nihonto).
http://www.jssus.org/ |
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San Francisco Japanese Sword Society
Group for Japanese sword enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate Japanese culture, history, language, philosophy, and customs.
http://members.aol.com/Sfkatana/ |
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Information on Tsuba
Collection of articles specializing in sword hand guards (Tsuba), with bibliography, questions and answers, glossary and links.
http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/tsuba.htm |
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Nihonto.ca
Includes both swords and fittings for sale, articles on swords photography, a screensaver and other useful links.
http://www.nihonto.ca/ |
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Blade Shark
Site for helping identify Chinese characters used on Japanese swords and fittings.
http://home.comcast.net/~bladeshark/ |
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Sword Forum International
Site relating to all areas of sword collecting and usage including articles and an active discussion forums.
http://www.swordforum.com/ |
Additional
Information: The Nihonto, or Japanese sword, is considered a work of art by many. This category is for those interested in the care and collection of genuine antique and modern Japanese swords.
Sites selling goods should not be submitted to this category. 
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