"NTHK-NPO SHINSA"
          April 28-30, 2023
          -A Major
          Japanese Cultural Event Held in Conjunction 
          with the Chicago Japanese
                Sword Show -
        Hyatt Regency
          Woodfield - Schaumburg, Illinois
          1800 E. Golf Rd. (west of Rt 53)
          (across from Woodfield Mall)
        
    
        
          Shinsa
          
        
      
    
        Shinsa team in action in Chicago in 2018
        
      
    
     A shinsa, or
        appraisal/authentication, will be held during the event for
        swords and sword fittings (tsuba, menuki, fuchi-gashira,
        koshirae, etc.) which can be submitted for judgement by
        advanced reservation. The group of experts coming from Japan to
        perform the appraisals are from the non-profit Nihon Token Hozon
        Kai (NTHK-NPO) which is the oldest sword appraisal group in
        Japan, dating back to the Meiji period (founded in 1910).
        
        The organization was formally granted non-profit status (NPO) by
        the Japanese government in 2002 as an educational organization.
        The group publishes a bi-monthly journal called "Token to
        Rekishi" ("The Sword and History"). Additionally, the group
        offers formal appraisal and authentication services in an effort
        to help preserve the culture of Japan and to educate the public.
        The NTHK has made numerous trips to the US for appraisal
        sessions to meet the needs of Western collectors and to educate
        owners of souvenir swords so that they too may appreciate the
        beauty and history associated with these unique works of art. 
        
      The appraisal team is highly respected in Japan; the team
        is second only to the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK)
        in the number of swords they receive each month for appraisal.
       
       Those wishing to submit swords and/or fittings (tsuba, menuki,
        fuchi-gashira, koshirae, etc.) for shinsa must first reserve a
        space and pay a non-refundable $100 submission fee per item
        (payment by check or paypal (address below)). Items passing
        shinsa will incur an additional mandatory fee of $200 payable at
        the completion of the shinsa (cash ONLY) for the formal
        appraisal papers (kantei-sho) which are sent from Japan rough 3
        months after the shinsa. 
        
        For those individuals who wish to submit items for shinsa but
        are unable to attend the event, we will offer a mail in
        submittal service at $100 per item plus return shipping costs
        (include the mail in fee with your reservation payment- these
        fees are in addition to the shinsa fees detailed in the
        preceeding paragraph). Items should be shipped at least 2 weeks
        prior to the event. Items will be submitted to shinsa on
        Thursday, April 27, 2023. Those mailing in items will be
        notified after the shinsa of the results by email and after
        remitting any outstanding balance, the items will then be
        repacked and returned following final payment. Those making a
        reservation for the mail-in shinsa will be notified a month
        before the event of the shipping address and must ship the items
        per the instructions provided.
       
       A kantei-sho, or appraisal certificate, with a picture and
        description of the item will be sent to the owner from Japan
        following the shinsa. The owner will also receive on the day of
        submission a copy of the shinsa team's worksheet which will
        describe the sword/fitting and indicate the period, maker (or
        school), and point score at the conclusion of the shinsa,
        translated into English.
       
       Kantei-sho will be issued according to the following system:
       
       60-69 points: Shintei-sho (equivalent to the NBTHK Hozon
        level)
       70-79 points: Kantei-sho (equivalent to the NBTHK Tokubetsu
        Hozon)
       80+ points: Kantei-sho (plus eligible for the yearly Yushu
        shinsa held only in Japan)
       
       We encourage those interested to make their reservations
        sooner rather than later as space is limited and usually sells
        out well in advance of the event. 
       
    For further Shinsa information and
        to make reservations, please contact:
    Chris Bowen
          PO Box 99
          Mt. Hope, WI 53816
          USA
          TEL: 608-988-0148
          email address: swords@ejapaneseswords.com
    For Hotel, Table reservations
          and further information about the Chicago
            Japanese Sword Show, please contact:
    Mark
        Jones
        427 W. Dussel #128
        Maumee, OH 43537-4208
        USA
     Call
        419-283-0941 9am-5pm E.S.T
    http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/
      
      email: chicagoswordshow@gmail.com