What to Do If You Find a Japanese Sword During Inheritance Sorting or Home Cleanup? About 52% Don't Know Its Origin or Value, and Around 55% Were Unaware It Could Be Sold

What would you do if you found a Japanese sword at home?

While cleaning your parents' home or sorting through inherited items, you might come across an old Japanese sword.

This scenario isn't just something that happens in period dramas.

However, when a real sword appears before you, many people may feel confused—wondering, "Is it legal to keep this?" or "Who should I consult?"

Therefore, we conducted a joint survey with Eirakudo, a specialist in Japanese sword sales and buyback, polling 500 people on the actual state of swords and bladed weapons lying dormant in Japanese households.

※When quoting this press release, please adhere to the following:

・Clearly state the source as "A survey conducted by NEXER Corporation and Eirakudo, a Japanese sword sales and buyback specialist."

・Include a link to Eirakudo (https://eirakudo.shop/)

Survey Overview: "Current State of Japanese Swords and Bladed Weapons in Households"

Survey Method: Online questionnaire

Survey Period: June 8 – June 15, 2026

Respondents: Men and women across Japan

Valid Responses: 500 samples

Survey Questions:

Question 1: Have you or did you previously have a Japanese sword or bladed weapon stored at your home or your parents’ home?

Question 2: To what extent do you understand the history and value of such swords or bladed weapons?

Question 3: If you found a Japanese sword during inheritance sorting or home cleanup, who would you consult first?

Question 4: Please explain your reason.

Question 5: After consulting, what would you like to do?

Question 6: Were you aware that Japanese swords can be bought back?

Question 7: If you were to request a buyback, which type of shop or company would you prefer?

Question 8: Please explain your reason.

※Percentages are rounded to the second decimal place, so totals may not add up to exactly 100%.

93.8% said they have “no experience” storing swords or bladed weapons

First, we asked whether respondents have or have had Japanese swords or bladed weapons stored at their home or parents’ home.

The result showed that 93.8% answered "no," while only 6.2% answered "yes."

Next, among those who answered "yes," we asked how much they knew about the history and value of these swords.

The results showed that 22.6% said "mostly unaware," and 29.0% said "completely unaware," totaling 51.6%. In contrast, 12.9% said "well aware," and 35.5% said "somewhat aware."

It appears that even when swords are present in a household, owners often do not fully understand their origin or value.

34.0% said they would first “search online”

Next, we asked what people would do first if they found a Japanese sword during inheritance sorting or home cleanup.

The most common response was "search online," at 34.0%.

This was followed by "police" at 20.2%, "family or relatives" at 13.8%, "specialist sword shop" at 10.8%, "buyback company" at 6.4%, "local government or public agency" at 5.4%, and "other" at 9.4%.

It appears many people prefer to gather information themselves before consulting an expert.

Below are some reasons provided by respondents:

Those who answered "search online":

・It helps me quickly understand what to do. (Male, 20s)

・When I have no idea, searching online gives me various information. (Female, 40s)

・I search online to find out who I should consult. (Male, 60s)

Those who answered "police":

・It becomes illegal if not registered. (Male, 20s)

・I don’t know if it’s legal to possess it. (Female, 30s)

・First, I need to contact the police to register the sword. Acting carelessly could lead to confiscation. (Male, 40s)

Those who answered "family or relatives":

・I’d want to ask my relatives first. (Female, 20s)

・I think I should first confirm with family who it belongs to or if anyone remembers. (Male, 30s)

・They’re most likely to know the sword’s background. (Male, 40s)

Those who answered "specialist sword shop":

・I think consulting a specialist is the most reliable. (Female, 20s)

・Consulting the police might make things complicated. (Male, 20s)

・I want to confirm whether it has value, so I’d consult a specialist shop. (Female, 40s)

The responses show that many people want to first obtain accurate information.

When encountering a Japanese sword, people face multiple dilemmas—legal concerns, family verification, and value assessment.

36.8% said they would consult about “disposal methods” after initial consultation

Next, we asked what people would want to do after consulting.

The most common response was "consult about disposal methods," at 36.8%.

This was followed by "sell it" at 32.2%, "continue storing it" at 13.2%, "donate it" at 5.8%, "pass it to family or relatives" at 1.6%, and "other" at 10.4%.

It’s clear that many people prefer to part with the sword in an appropriate manner rather than keep it.

Notably, "consult about disposal methods" and "sell it" are nearly equal in percentage.

This suggests that a significant number of people view the sword either as a "difficult-to-handle item" to be disposed of or as a "valuable item" to be appraised.

55.0% said they "learned about buyback for the first time through this survey"

Next, we asked whether respondents knew Japanese swords could be bought back.

The result showed that 55.0% answered "learned for the first time through this survey," exceeding half.

"Heard of it before" accounted for 39.8%, and "well aware" was only 5.2%.

Even if people want to sell, they may not know that buyback services exist.

This lack of information may be why swords continue to lie dormant in households.

37.6% said they would choose a "specialist sword shop" for buyback

Finally, we asked which type of shop or company they would prefer if they were to request a buyback.

The most common answer was "specialist sword shop," at 37.6%.

This was followed by "buyback company with extensive appraisal experience for swords" at 22.4%, and "company with high user review ratings" at 11.2%.

We also collected reasons for these choices:

Those who chose "specialist sword shop":

・I feel more secure with a specialist shop. (Male, 20s)

・Specialists are more likely to understand the sword’s value. (Female, 30s)

・They seem most capable of accurately assessing its value. (Male, 40s)

Those who chose "buyback company with extensive appraisal experience":

・I prefer companies with proven track records. (Female, 20s)

・Having experience gives me peace of mind. (Male, 30s)

・I want to avoid troubles like being offered an extremely low price. (Male, 40s)

Those who chose "company with high user review ratings":

・Higher reviews make me feel more secure