Oshigata have been produced in Japan since well before the middle ages. They were an important attachment to certificates issued by the sword-appraising societies and families. Today highly detailed and precise oshigata drawing is appreciated as an artform. As well as being an invaluable aid to study they also add prestige and identity to the sword.

Practical information.
The finished oshigata is rolled inside a scroll of thick protective paper and then stored in a further protective tube and labelled. Instructions on how to handle and care for the oshigata are also supplied. Oshigata are suitable to be mounted and displayed as kakejiku, or framed and displayed behind glass.

Note: During the drawing process great care is taken to ensure that the sword is not damaged or scratched in any way. Swords are stored within a safe while in my keeping, the appartment is secure and has an advanced alarm system (certified ASA).

The process of drawing an oshigata can be very time consuming, depending on the amount of detail there is to be seen in the sword and the method used to portray it. I would need to have the sword for a minimum of one week to do an oshigata properly. If you live in the Netherlands, and feel hesitant about letting the sword out of your sight, a series of appointments can be made so that the oshigata(s) are drawn at your location.

Pricing is very difficult and can only really be calculated once the depth of the project has been agreed, for instance an oshigata that portrays only the basic hamon shape and nakago rubbing is much less complicated to execute than one that would extensively detail all activity such as nie, tobiyaki and complicated choji patterns.