Edo was the sword’s age of connoisseurship: the Hon’ami appraisers, the shogunal register of famous blades of 1719, and a thriving literature turned the sword into an object of study even as it ceased to be drawn in war.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchThis blade is attributed to Sawahara Shigetane (沢原重胤), who was especially active during the Bunka era (1804-1818: Late Edo period). He was also a samurai from Shirakawa in the Oshu region (present-day Fukushima Prefecture). He resided in the Musashi domain, which is now part of modern Tokyo. Under the orders of his domain, Shigetane studied swordsmithing under the renowned master Taikei Naotane (大慶直胤). Among Naotane’s many disciples, Shigetane is considered one of the most accomplished. He demonstrated exceptional skill and faithfully carried on the refined style of his master, producing works of remarkable craftsmanship and elegance. He used Tane(胤) in his maker’s name, which is the same character as his master Naotane (直胤). We assume that his craftsmanship was acknowledged by his master as well. Taikei Naotane 大慶直胤 (His master) Natane was born in the seventh year of the Anei era (1778) into a family that made sickles, a farming tool, for living in Dewa Koku (Today’s Yamagata prefecture). From a younger age, he got interested in becoming a swordsmith while learning blacksmithing skills. During the late Kansei era (1789-1801), he left his hometown and moved to Edo City to become an apprentice for Suishinshi Masahide, one of the most reputable swordsmiths in Edo during that time. He learned excellent craftsmanship from Masahide in a house owned by Akimoto family, which was the head of Dewa Koku. It is said that Naotane became an independent swordsmith in 1801. He started to serve Akimoto family in 1812 through the introduction from Suishinshi Masahide. And he received the honorable official title of Chikuzen Daijo (筑前大掾) in 1822. In 1848, he visited Kyoto and forged a Tachi blade for Takatsuka family, one of the imperial lineage, and received another title called Minosuke (美濃介). The more Naotane gained fame, the more often he was invited by a feudal lord or high-class Samurai in other provinces to forge blades. He created swords nationwide in his late career. The works of Naotane have been highly appreciated because he played an essential role in Japanese sword history at the end of the Edo period. It is said that he mastered all the five Japanese sword traditions called Gokaten (五箇伝). They are Bizen DEN, Mino Den, Soshu Den, Yamashiro Den and Yamato Den. It is said that he was especially excellent at Bizen and Soshu Den. His master, Suishinshi Masahide, was the proponent of revitalizing old sword-forging traditions. This movement is called Token Futsuko Ron (刀剣復古論). Naotane followed suit and mastered superb craftsmanship. Natotane trained many famous swordsmiths, and one of them was Jiro Taro Naokatsu, who was active during 1805-1858. Naotane died at the age of 79 in 1857. This blade is appraised as a Hozon Touken (保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai: 日本美術刀剣保存協会). Please keep in mind that there are a couple of chip on the upper part of the the blade. Compared to other Katana blades, the width of this one is relatively narrow. If you like to know the detailed measurement, please feel free to contact us. Fuchi-Kashira This fuchi-kashira features a type of hishi-mon (菱紋, diamond crest), a traditional Japanese pattern. The design is believed to have originated from the shape of the hishi (water caltrop), an aquatic plant that grows in ponds and marshes. This motif has been used in Japan since ancient times—it even appears on Jomon period pottery. The hishi pattern became especially prominent during the Heian period (794–1185), when it was adopted as a formal courtly design (yūsoku monyō) for aristocratic garments. As a classic example of geometric patterning, it has long been featured in textiles and decorative arts throughout Japanese history. Tsuba and Habaki This tsuba features a simple design with two leaf motifs on either side and scattered gold inlays. The leaves represent nature, while the sprinkled gold dots may symbolize dew or falling leaves, adding a subtle decorative touch. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on December 4th in the 6th year of Reiwa (2024). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society.
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Iwashiro · around 1830-1844
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 87%
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The Edo period (1615 to 1868)
Edo was the sword’s age of connoisseurship: the Hon’ami appraisers, the shogunal register of famous blades of 1719, and a thriving literature turned the sword into an object of study even as it ceased to be drawn in war.
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns/exchanges limited to defects caused by shipping (except willful misconduct or gross negligence by the company); customers must contact within 72 hours of receiving the product.