Vintage Japanese Commemorative Bokken (Wooden Sword)
Oak bokken commemorating the victory at the 9th All-Japan Secondary Schools Kendō Tournament · Early Shōwa period (1938).
This antique Japanese bokken was sourced in Japan and selected for its craftsmanship, history, and quiet presence.
ABOUT THIS PIECE
This unusual Japanese bokken (木剣) is much more than an old wooden practice sword. Hand-carved inscriptions along the wood connect it with a specific event in the history of pre-war Japanese kendō.
The inscriptions read 第九回全日本中等学校剣道大会, referring to the 9th All-Japan Secondary Schools Kendō Tournament, and 優勝, meaning “Championship” or “Victory.” The tournament took place on 2–3 August 1938 at the Kokumin Taiikukan in Tokyo, with Fukuoka Normal School recorded as the winning team.
The combination of the tournament inscription and the word yūshō strongly indicates that the bokken was produced as a commemorative object associated with this championship victory. No individual recipient's name appears on the piece, however, so its original owner cannot be established with certainty.
Made from oak, the bokken has developed a warm aged surface over nearly nine decades. Marks, colour variations and traces of handling remain visible along the wood, while the carved inscriptions preserve the historical context that gives the piece its particular significance.
CULTURAL NOTE
Kendō occupied an important place in Japanese education during the pre-war Shōwa period, and national competitions brought together some of the country's strongest young practitioners. Unlike an anonymous training bokken, this example can be connected through its inscriptions to a particular national tournament and to the victorious Fukuoka Normal School team of 1938.
There is also an intriguing connection with Iho Kiyotsugu (伊保清次, 1920–1999). Iho attended Fukuoka Normal School, and biographical accounts record that he captained its kendō team and achieved three victories in major national secondary-school competitions. He was 18 years old in 1938 and was therefore a student at the school at the time of the championship commemorated by this bokken.
Iho later became an important figure in Japanese kendō, attaining Hanshi 8-dan. In 1961, at the age of 41, he won the 9th All-Japan Kendō Championship.
The historical circumstances therefore make an association between this bokken and Iho—or another member of the championship team—possible. There is, however, no name or surviving documentation connecting this particular bokken directly to Iho Kiyotsugu, and no claim of personal ownership is made.
DELIVERY
Delivery is included in the prices shown for Europe, the United States and Japan. For other destinations, please contact us for a delivered price.
Secure, reinforced packaging with tracking.
Note: Import duties or taxes may apply depending on the regulations of the destination country. For items over 100 years old, reduced import duties or taxes may apply in some countries. On request, we can provide a certificate stating the item’s estimated age to assist with customs clearance.
DETAILS & PRICE
SKU: A192
Price:
Europe: €580— delivery to Europe included
United States: US$650 — delivery to the USA included
Japan: ¥55,000 — delivery within Japan included
Material: Kashi (Japanese oak)
Period: Early Shōwa period (1938)
Origin: Japan
Features:
Hand-carved tournament and championship inscriptions; wooden tsuba; aged surface and traces of handling
Inscription: 第九回全日本中等学校剣道大会 / 優勝
Dimensions: L 101 × W 3 × D 2 cm (39.8 × 1.2 × 0.8 in)
Condition:
Good vintage condition, with age-related wear, marks and surface variations consistent with its age and history.
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