Tokyo, November 2th/3th 2024, Dai Token Ichi 2024
Of course, one of the biggest highlights of the year is always the Dai Token Ichi – the largest Japanese sword fair in the world. With around 67 shops and dealers from all over Japan, it is the event that collectors and enthusiasts from all over the world must attend. There is simply no larger exhibition of Japanese swords or swordsmanship to admire and purchase. Everything from the smallest tosogu to full-size armor is available.
However, I see a trend, especially in the tosogu area, that some artists are becoming more and more difficult to find than they were a few years ago. Don’t get me wrong, the DTI is so extensive and the amount of offerings is overwhelming. You can basically find anything, but highly valued masters fetch what they are worth. However, if you are looking for a master who is in the middle class or even a lesser known exotic artist, you will have to search really hard or browse some dealers’ exhibitions.
I particularly liked the fact that the media presence was much higher this time than in previous years. On both days, camera teams with reporters streamed through the exhibition and interviewed dealers as well as international and Japanese visitors. In the world of Japanese swords, a lot of advertising still needs to be done so that these beautiful works of art can be admired by future generations. The Nihonto Collection is doing its part to achieve this.
Like last year, the DTI event only ran for two days instead of three. As I was told, the huge line at the entrance on the first day was missing. (In 2023 it went around the block.) This was perhaps because it had rained and people decided to come a little later and not have to wait outside.
Last year I thought it was just as bad that a whole day was missing to explore and admire the artworks or find hidden treasures in the back of a dealers’ display case. The first day was – as usual – very crowded, but this time there was enough space to navigate the two halls on the second day. In the afternoon the atmosphere became even more relaxed, people had a little more fun as the hunt for good treasures was already over. Unfortunately, some visitors (from overseas) were a little too relaxed when showing off their newly purchased swords in the cafeteria, but were immediately reprimanded.
My whole view of the length and duration of the exhibition changed this year as I had to manage a booth this time. From a dealers perspective, it’s much more than a two-day event. Planning the catalog and transporting everything to central Tokyo is a time-consuming undertaking. As expected, preparations for the booth begin the day before. For those who have wondered what it’s like to set up a Japanese sword booth at DTI, I’ve captured some impressions for you.
It is truly an exciting experience to speak to collectors from all over the world. Since we were able to offer swords and tosogu in a variety of price ranges and from many different artists and schools, many people visited the booth and enjoyed the exhibition.
A day at the DTI is exhausting, but it flies by and is a lot of fun.
To everyone who came to visit me, said hello, took some gummy bears or bought a tsuba: thank you! I hope to see you there again next year!
How to set up your booth at the DTI:
