I don't know much about Japanese swords, but I do recall hearing from a good authority that the ancient family treasure swords carried by young Imperial Japanese officers in the war were always refitted with an utterly plain wooden haft and scabbard in order to preserve the original delicate and priceless ornamental hafts and scabbards which stayed back home.
There were a lot of swords made just before the war that are junk by comparison, but still pretty good swords. Nothing like the craftsmanship of an ancient feudalist period sword, at least. Some of those supposedly cost a year's income to the original owners.
That sword has what looks like a common haft and scabbard, but once again I'm no authority.
I wonder how many captured swords are in Allied veteran's hands to this day where they haven't got any idea what they're worth?
I know that I'd sure like to have one that's 350 years old and can slice a thick feather pillow in half in mid-air.
Valued Japanese swords were often stored in plain wooden mounts and remounted as needed. They were passed down and meticulously (and expensively) maintained from generation to generation. Many of these swords were remounted and used during the war. They are often found dressed as ordinary military production officer swords, even NCO swords, but when you remove the mounts you can find a signed masterpiece from centuries ago.
Here is a good site for further information on these swords:
http://www.japanesesword.com/ I guess during the next round the libs will raid the museums and libraries of Europe and burn any painting, sculpture, or book, that portray weapons, or anything that may look like a weapon.