The Most Expensive Katana in the world
The katana is not only an excellent weapon but also a remarkable piece of art. While it was once an important weapon on the battlefield, the katana was gradually replaced after the introduction of firearms (tanegashima) in Japan. Following World War II, many Japanese swords were confiscated, pushing the katana even closer to disappearing.
However, the Japanese have long regarded the katana as both a weapon and an art form, which has allowed this ancient tradition—spanning thousands of years—to survive into the present day. Today, we’ll explore some of the most expensive katanas ever made and discover what makes them so fascinating.
A katana made in Japan is called a Nihonto. Only those crafted using traditional methods and tamahagane steel can be officially recognized as Nihonto. Katanas made outside of Japan with modern steels are not considered Nihonto—they are simply swords used by martial arts practitioners and generally hold little value for collectors or artistic appreciation. In this article, you'll see that the most expensive katanas are, in fact, Nihonto—more specifically, antique Nihonto. The value of a Japanese sword is determined by several factors, including the swordsmith who created it, the era in which it was forged, and which famous person (usually a daimyo) may have once wielded it.
The Most Expensive Katana : 山鳥毛 Sanchomo
Value: 500 million yen / around 3.5 million USD
Owner: 瀬戸内市 Setouchi City acquired in 2020
Sanchomo is a Tachi (太刀) forged in mid-Kamakura period, it’s a national treasure in Japan. The swordsmith is unknown, no mei was found in the nakago, but the style is believed is the Fukuoka Ichimonji school in Bizen Province. The official name of this tachi is “ Tachi Mumei Ichimonji [Sanchomo], 太刀 無銘一文字［山鳥毛］, means it is a tachi without mei in Ichimonji school.
The name Sanchomo is the "gou" (号), also read as Yamatorige, the name literally means mountain bird feathers, comes from the blade’s magnificent Hamon, resembles the feather of a mountain bird. It is O choji midare type of hamon, with many beautiful details, considered one of the most splendid hamon patterns in all of Japan.
Sanchomo was the beloved katana of the上杉謙信 Uesugi Kenshin, one of the famous damiyo in Japan and known as the god of war. Later, this tachi passed from the Uesugi family into the hands of a private sword collector. Since 1997 (Heisei 9), it had been stored in the Okayama Prefectural Museum.
In 2018, Setouchi City—known as the home of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school—decided to purchase the Sanchōmō sword, a blade forged in its own land, in order to preserve and promote the history and cultural heritage of Japanese sword-making. The sword was originally valued at around 300 million yen. However, considering its potential economic and cultural impact, it was ultimately appraised at 500 million yen—approximately 3.5 million USD—making it the most expensive Japanese sword ever purchased (as of 2025).
What’s even more interesting—and touching—is not just the record-breaking amount, but the story behind it. The entire 500 million yen was raised through crowdfunding by the general public in Setouchi City. The campaign began in 2018 and succeeded in 2020. Backers received special perks, such as a certificate of ownership for the Sanchōmō sword and invitations to view it while it was on display. This successful campaign demonstrated how deeply the Japanese people cherish their traditions.
Fact check source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamatorige
https://setouchi-cf.jp/village/gohome/
Second Most expensive Katana: 大包平 Okanehira
Before the Sanchomo, the most expensive katana was the Okanehira. It was sold in 1967 for 65 million yen, when the Japanese Ministry of Education purchased it from its owner. Adjusted for inflation, that amount is roughly equivalent to 260 million yen today, or about 1.68 million USD.
Compared to a regular katana, the Okanehira stands out with its longer blade length of 89.2 cm, a wider profile, and a more pronounced curve(sori). Despite its size, it is surprisingly lightweight—only 1.35 kg—whereas other katanas of similar dimensions typically weigh around 2 kg. This is due to its relatively thin blade, which contributes to both its elegance and exceptional craftsmanship.
Okanehira was previously owned by Ikeda Terumasa 池田輝政，he valued the sword so much he considered it value more than an entire province. The sword was remain kept by the Ikeda clan ever since. After World War II, General Douglas MacArthur reportedly expressed interest in acquiring okanehira, but rejected by the Ikeda clan, “Only if it’s in exchange for the Statue of Liberty,” firmly declining the request.
Fact check source:
The "100 million Katana"
There have been reports online about a tachi said to have belonged to Fukushima Masanori being sold for $100 million—a shockingly high figure. However, there is very little credible information about this purchase, and we haven’t been able to find any authoritative sources to verify its authenticity. Given the supposed value of the sword, one would expect it to be listed as a Japanese National Treasure or at least classified under recognized sword rankings such as Hozon Tōken (保存刀剣). Based on available photos, the sword doesn’t appear to be in good condition, and we couldn’t find any NBTHK certification either. While it’s true that Fukushima Masanori owned a famous sword (Tachi Osafune Kanemitsu / 太刀 長船兼光), that piece is still preserved in the Tokyo National Museum. For these reasons, we strongly doubt the $100 million sword story is real.
