Approximately 90% Have Never Considered Art/Antiques as Assets or Investments; Recognition as Investment Targets Remains Low

Not Just the 'Joy of Owning'? The Little-Known Side of Japanese Swords as Assets

Alongside stocks, real estate, and gold, art and antiques are also said to be potential "assets."

Among these, Japanese swords, as art and antiques, can be traded for hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of yen or more. In particular, works by famous swordsmiths like Masamune and Muramasa have nearly doubled in value in recent years.

However, how many people are aware of this as an "option for investment or asset building?"

Therefore, this time, in collaboration with Eirakudo, a dealer specializing in the sale and purchase of Japanese swords, we conducted a survey on the "asset value of Japanese swords" targeting 500 men and women nationwide.

*When quoting the content of this press release, please take the following actions:

- Indicate that the source is a "survey conducted by NEXER Group Inc. and Eirakudo, a dealer specializing in the sale and purchase of Japanese swords."

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

Survey Overview: "Survey on the Asset Value of Japanese Swords"

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

Survey Period: June 17, 2026 - June 24, 2026

Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide

Valid Responses: 500 samples

Questions:

Question 1: Have you ever considered art/antiques as "assets or investment targets?"

Question 2: Please tell us the reasons that led you to consider or possess them.

Question 3: Do you know that Japanese swords are traded as art/antiques for prices ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of yen or more?

Question 4: Have you ever considered Japanese swords as "one of the options for asset building?"

Question 5: When considering the purchase of art or antiques, how important do you think it is to be "a reliable specialty store?"

Question 6: Please tell us the reasons.

*In principle, figures are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

90.0% Responded That They Have "Never" Considered Art/Antiques as "Assets or Investment Targets"

First, we asked if respondents had ever considered art or antiques as "assets or investment targets."

The most common answer was "Have never considered it at all," at 76.4%.

Next, "Have not really considered it" was 13.6%. Combined, 90.0% of respondents answered that they had "never considered it."

On the other hand, "Have considered it a little" was 4.6%, "Have often considered it" was 2.2%, and "Currently own them" was 3.2%.

It appears that people who view art from the perspective of investment and assets remain a minority.

We also asked for the reasons that led them to consider or possess them, and here are some examples:

Reasons that led you to consider or possess them:

- Simply wanted to collect them. (20s, Male)

- Was hooked on collecting art. (30s, Female)

- Recommendations from friends and word-of-mouth on social media. (40s, Female)

- Thought it could be a good asset. (50s, Female)

- Things with asset value tend to increase in price. (60s, Female)

- Can sell them when in trouble. (70s, Male)

While many people view paintings and antiques as objects for "appreciation and enjoyment," the current situation shows that few are aware of them as "assets that generate money."

Furthermore, looking at the reasons for considering or possessing them, we see that some people start with "collection" or "hobbies," while others focus on their asset value, such as "price appreciation" or "being able to sell them in emergencies."

Although the triggers vary from person to person, it is noteworthy that "liking" and "value" are connected.

57.2% Responded That They "Knew Nothing At All" About High-Value Transactions of Japanese Swords

Next, we asked if respondents knew that Japanese swords are traded at prices ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of yen or more as art and antiques.

The result was that 57.2%, over half, answered "Knew nothing at all." Additionally, "Vaguely knew" was 27.0%, "Knew to some extent" was 10.8%, and "Knew well" was 5.0%.

While few people clearly recognized that Japanese swords are traded at high prices, including those who "vaguely knew," the figure reaches 42.8%, suggesting a certain level of recognition of their value as cultural properties.

On the other hand, the number of people who know the price levels in detail is limited, and there appears to be a gap between recognition and actual market value.

It seems that the aspect of Japanese swords as assets, along with their appeal as cultural properties, is not yet fully known.

87.8% Responded That They Have "Never" Considered Japanese Swords as "An Option for Asset Building"

Next, we asked if respondents had ever considered Japanese swords as "one of the options for asset building."

The result was that "Have never considered it" accounted for the majority at 87.8%. On the other hand, "Have not considered it but am slightly interested" was 5.8%, "Have considered it but have not reached the stage of deliberation" was 2.4%, and "Have seriously considered it" and "Already own them" were 2.0% each.

While many people do not consider Japanese swords as a means of asset building, over 10% have some level of interest or experience in considering them.

Combined with the previous question's result of "did not know they were traded at high prices," it suggests that awareness of their value and marketability is not yet fully widespread.

Therefore, it can be said that the aspect of Japanese swords as assets is still in the early stages of recognition.

53.2% Responded That "Being a Reliable Specialty Store" is "Extremely Important" When Purchasing

Finally, we asked how important respondents thought it was to be "a reliable specialty store" when considering the purchase of art or antiques.

The most common answer was "Extremely important" at 53.2%.

Combined with "Somewhat important" at 14.6%, 67.8% considered it "important."

On the other hand, "Not important at all" was 26.2%, and "Not very important" was 6.0%.

We also asked for the reasons, and here are some examples:

Reasons for thinking it is "important"

- I want to choose a reliable place if I'm entrusting important assets. (20s, Male)

- I don't have knowledge about Japanese swords, so I want a reliable dealer to avoid being undervalued. (30s, Female)

- I often see stories on TV about antiques being fakes. (40s, Male)

- There's a possibility of being bought out cheaply. (20s, Male)

- When personal information and large sums of money are involved, the company's reliability is most important. (30s, Female)

- I want a professional who understands the value to assess it. (40s, Female)

Reasons for thinking it is "not important"

- I don't have that kind of experience. (20s, Male)

- I don't know the value myself and might be deceived. (40s, Male)

- Antiques are a hobby. (50s, Male)

Considering that over 60% of people consider it important, it seems that because art and antiques are difficult to value, many people place importance on "where they buy" and "who they entrust it to."

Additionally, among those who answered "important," concerns such as "not wanting to be sold a fake" and "not wanting to be undervalued" were expressed.

Even among those who answered "not important," there were voices saying, "I don't know the value myself and might be deceived."

From these results, it can be inferred that in fields like art and antiques where value is difficult to determine, "where to buy" and "who to entrust it to" are major decision-making criteria.

A certain number of people, regardless of their position, seem to feel that "it is difficult to accurately assess the value on my own."

Conclusion

From the results of this survey, we found that 90% of people have never considered art or antiques as assets or investment targets.

Furthermore, 57.2% "knew nothing at all" about the high-value transactions of Japanese swords, indicating that their asset value is not yet widely known.

On the other hand, there were opinions of "slight interest," and approximately 70% emphasized "being a reliable specialty store" when purchasing.

Because the value is difficult to discern, the ability to consult with someone who has a discerning eye becomes key.

Perhaps a new way of approaching assets can begin by first understanding the value of a single sword close to home.

<For use in articles, etc.>

- Indicate that the source is a "survey conducted by NEXER Group Inc. and Eirakudo, a dealer specializing in the sale and purchase of Japanese swords."

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

<About Eirakudo>

Company Name: Eirakudo Co., Ltd.

Address: 1-13-14 Ryogoku 1F, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0026

Representative Director: Yuriko Kimura

Tel: 090-2630-0077

URL: https://eirakudo.shop/

Business Description: A specialty store for Japanese swords located in Ryogoku, Tokyo.

We purchase swords such as tachi, katana, wakizashi, tanto, and yari, as well as sword fittings like tsuba, menuki, kogai, and koshirae.

With a rich sales network including retail, online sales, and inter-dealer transactions, and with the pride of being a specialty sword store, we offer the highest possible prices, setting us apart from specialized buyers.

Appraisals are free, so please feel free to contact us.

<About NEXER Group Inc.>

Headquarters: Rise Arena Building 11F, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013

Representative Director: Yuya Miyata

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

Business Description: SEO, Web Branding, Web Advertising, Website Production, Media