Tokubetsu v. Hozon

[Richard757]

I was wondering in general (as a rule of thumb) what multple in price there would be in these two NTBHK grades comparing similar swords from the same smith. Would a Tokubetsu be 1.5 or 2.0 times as valuable as a Hozon for instance? 

[Rayhan]

There is absolutely no correlation. 

 

I can hold in collection a Hozon sword, of superior quality and a Tokubetsu Hozon sword of very low quality and they would command the price that:

 

- is fair market value for their authenticity 

 

- is fair for what another collector is willing to pay.

 

It very much depends on the item.

 

Hozon is a basis for authenticity 

[Ray Singer]

https://web.archive.org/web/20210123052753/https://blog.yuhindo.com/ladder-theory/

[waljamada]

I remember reading someones post not too long ago that illustrates a relevant point to this and also kinda made me chuckle.  The gist of the story (with a bit of storytelling embellishments since i dont fully remember it anyways) went something like: 

 

A respected collector in Japan was selling a historically significant and truly special blade by a top smith.  The owner of the blade (which would make juyo or toku juyo) didn't go through the papering process past hozon for the simple reason that they simply wanted the shinsa "proof" of its authenticity and beyond that it's value is already apparent due to the blade/market itself.  The buyer walks out after purchasing the outstanding blade for a very large sum and says to his friend with a smile, "seems really expensive for just a hozon blade'.

 

I will say through that katana length tokubetsu hozon blades don't often pop up under 3k.  So there is a higher "floor" for toku hozon than hozon.

[Jacques]

Hozon = traditionally made and the signature is good, nothing else. No quality question in hozon.

[Rayhan]

You need to apply ladder (fallacy) theory to each blade as an individual. For example, I have a sword (now my daughters) that was taken from Hozon to Tokubetsu Juyo. I also have a Masayuki sword that will never pass THozon and I still have Juyo blades that have hopes of reaching Tokubetsu Juyo, Tokubetsu Hozon that may reach Juyo.

 

There is a financial upgrade but it is always at an individual level in regards to the sword in question. 

 

The complexity to this system is far, far greater and applies directly to learning and patient development of one's understanding. 

 

If you visit the NBTHK museum in Tokyo now you will see Juyo Kiyomaro on display, you will see Juyo swords from Kiyomaro that will leave you asking "how can this be Juyo?" And then you will see swords from Kiyomaro that make you ask "how can this not be TJuyo or Jubi?"

 

 

 

[Schneeds]

Generally speaking, the criteria is as follows below.  The nature of the criteria lends itself to more value as it rises, however as has been pointed out, it is no guarantee of and vast ranges of value exist within any given paper level. 

 

Hozon Token

 

1) Edo and earlier blades with correct mei, or mumei blades on which the time period, kuni and group can be identified, may receive Hozon paper.

2) Blades that meet the criteria given above can receive Hozon paper even if they are slightly tired or have kizu, as long as those may be permissible in their appreciation.

3) Repair on jiba is permissible, unless it significantly impairs the beauty of the blade.

4) Blades made in the Meiji period and later can receive Hozon paper only when the blade is well made and zaimei.

5) For Nambokucho and earlier zaimei blades by famous smiths, re-temper can be permissible if the blade is valuable as a reference, and if the jiba and nakago are sufficiently well preserved. However, this will be documented as "yaki-naoshi" in the paper.

6) Blades are put to "reservation" (horyu) if a decision could not easily be made on the authenticity of the mei. This also applies to mumei blades in which an attribution is difficult to make.

 

Tokubetsu Hozon Token

 

1) Blades with Hozon papers, good workmanship and state of preservation can receive Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

2) Blades with the following conditions are excluded from point 1.

a. Re-tempered blades may not receive a Tokubetsu Hozon paper, as a rule, unless they date not later than Nanbokucho, are zaimei, by famous smiths, if the blade is valuable as a reference, and if the jiba and nakago are sufficiently well preserved.

However, this will be documented as "yaki-naoshi" in the paper.

b. Muromachi and Edo period mumei blades may not receive a Tokubetsu Hozon paper, as a rule. However, if a blade is attributable to a famous smith and in excellent condition it may receive Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

 

Juyo Token

 

Blades with Tokubetsu Hozon paper can receive Juyo if one of the following points is true:

1) Blades of extremely high quality workmanship and state of preservation, and judged as close to Juyo Bijutsuhin, may receive Juyo Token paper.

2) Blades that meet the criteria given above and made in or before Nambokucho may receive Juyo Token paper even if they are mumei. Blades made in the Muromachi period have to be zaimei and blades from the Edo period and later, as a rule, have to be ubu and zaimei to receive Juyo Token paper.

 

Tokubetsu Juyo Token

 

Among Juyo Token, the ones of excellent quality and superior condition, judged as the same as the top level Juyo Bijutsuhin, or conceivable as equivalent value as Juyo Bunkazai, may receive Tokubetsu Juyo Token paper.

[nulldevice]

3 hours ago, Ray Singer said:

https://web.archive.org/web/20210123052753/https://blog.yuhindo.com/ladder-theory/

Does anybody have the images associated with this wonderful article archived? It's a shame they were lost with Darcy's passing as his diagrams and graphs were always a good accompaniment to the writing. 

[Ray Singer]

2 hours ago, Schneeds said:

Muromachi and Edo period mumei blades may not receive a Tokubetsu Hozon paper, as a rule. However, if a blade is attributable to a famous smith and in excellent condition it may receive Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

 

This is no longer the case. The NBTHK is now awarding Tokubetsu Hozon for osuriage mumei Muromachi period swords, including those with only school attributions (not to a specific, famous swordsmith). I have seen an increasing number of osuriage mumei Muromachi blades receive Tokubetsu Hozon, even osuriage mumei wakizashi. A Tokubetsu Hozon Mihara was just recently offered for sale in the FB discussion groups. 

 

[Hoshi]

Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon, it makes absolutely no difference for me, in my area (Kamakura to Nambokucho blades). 

 

- it is relevant for fittings, as it becomes an indicator of importance (as opposed to a mere checklist). 
 

- it is relevant for Showa period swords, where TH is rarely awarded. There, I believe it may contain some information about relative Importance. 
 

TH is a checklist, and one that keeps on changing. If you learn the checklist, you do not need to get the paper, unless you plan to submit to Juyo. 
 

As Ray justly points out, The NBHTK has moved the goalpost with mumei Muromachi blades receiving TH. 

[Schneeds]

1 hour ago, Ray Singer said:

 

This is no longer the case. The NBTHK is now awarding Tokubetsu Hozon for osuriage mumei Muromachi period swords, including those with only school attributions (not to a specific, famous swordsmith). I have seen an increasing number of osuriage mumei Muromachi blades receive Tokubetsu Hozon, even osuriage mumei wakizashi. A Tokubetsu Hozon Mihara was just recently offered for sale in the FB discussion groups. 

 

Yep.  The question becomes how common place and to what degree.  I didn't realize it was happening this much.   

 

When you have a finite supply and an economic incentive to award papers, one of two scenarios eventually has to happen:  You either stop awarding papers, or you move the goal posts and keep making money/stay relevant. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

For many the lustre of Tokubetsu Hozon was reduced when swords could be submitted and pass Hozon & Tokubetsu Hozon in the same session. There was a extraordinary uptick in swords receiving TH and the significance was watered down to the point of absurdity in many cases. The NBTHK wisely put a stop to this and reverted the sessions to be separate.

 

 

 

 

[Brano]

6 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

For many the lustre of Tokubetsu Hozon was reduced when swords could be submitted and pass Hozon & Tokubetsu Hozon in the same session. There was a extraordinary uptick in swords receiving TH and the significance was watered down to the point of absurdity in many cases. The NBTHK wisely put a stop to this and reverted the sessions to be separate.

 

 

 

 

This was valid for some time during Covid I think
You can apply again for Hozon and Tokubetsu Hozon in one application

https://www.touken.or.jp/shinsa/fee.html

 

BTW - Shinsa has again significantly raised fees for Juyo and TokuJu

[kissakai]

I enjoyed this post and wondered how this classification works with tsuba

 

[raynor]

Anyone knows where to get more insight into the "workmanship" part of judging a sword hozon vs tokubetsu hozon. Is it things like cosmetic, blade integrity/structure, a mix of both?