Welcome to Nihonto Australia, the Australian website for Japanese Samurai swords, fittings and armour.
My name is John Grasso, the owner of Nihonto Australia and Samurai Gallery Australia.
My passion for Japanese Samurai swords, or Nihonto as they are referred to in their traditional language, spans back a martial arts career that began over 30 years ago. As a young martial artist practicing in the disciplines of Karate, Muay Thai and Kickboxing I couldn’t help but become fascinated in the Bushido Warrior Code, Japanese Samurai history and Japanese Samurai swords.
After studying and collecting Japanese swords for over 15 years I launched what would become the first version of Nihonto Australia. Now after having collected Japanese swords for over 30 years I still find the subject fascinating and enjoy sharing my passion with other collectors and enthusiasts in Australia and across the globe.
In 2014 I opened Samurai Gallery Australia to further continue sharing my passion for the subject. Samurai Gallery Australia is a gallery located in Cairns, dedicated to all aspects of historical Japanese works of art and particularly Samurai swords, armour and artefacts. Samurai Gallery Australia is open to the public by appointment and offers private bookings.
Meticulously hand crafted Japanese swords have been treasured for over 1000 years, starting originally with the Samurai who wielded them in battle and followed by generations of family members who have continued to pass them down. There is also a growing market of collectors and enthusiasts who are also captivated by these swords.
I travel to Japan frequently in order to further my study and knowledge in Japanese swords. This regular travel gives me the opportunity to acquire special pieces for my clients as well as the gallery. Many of my clients have now built expansive, wonderful collections of specifically hand-picked swords and artefacts.
As a member of the NBTHK, the Great Britain Token Society, The Australian Society for the preservation of Japanese art swords and the Heritage and Arms Society I treat the preservation of Japanese swords as an upmost priority. Over the past 30 years I’ve had the sincere enjoyment of personally having a countless number of swords professionally restored in the traditional manner in Japan. By having these pieces restored they have received another life and are now preserved for future generations to appreciate.
We hope you enjoy browsing our website and we try our best to keep it updated all of the time. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re interested in any of the items on the website, want to discuss the preservation of Japanese swords or would like an opinion on one. If you’re ever in Cairns, Far North Queensland don’t forget to stop by Samurai Gallery Australia to see our collection.
