Muromachi turned sword making into an industry: the uchigatana rose with massed infantry warfare, Osafune and Seki produced bundle swords beside custom orders, and the Ming trade carried Japanese blades abroad by the tens of thousands.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchA newly acquired katana with its signature intact, discovered in the treasury of an old Japanese family and preserved in exceptionally fine condition, has arrived. The blade is fully polished throughout, with virtually no flaws, rust, or chips except for a single fukure-like imperfection about 15 centimeters along the shinogi from the machi on the sashimote side. True to its Koto period origins, the bright, vivid jigane displays a lively interplay of itame and mokume patterns, with chikei and yubashiri clearly visible to the naked eye. The hamon features a fine notare pattern extending from the machi to the monouchi, transitioning into a vigorous gunome pattern around the monouchi. The hataraki, including the nie, ashi, and yo, are also highly active. The nakago bears the name Kunisuke. In August 2024, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords authenticated this work as a genuine Shimada Kunisuke, further issuing a Hozon certificate recognizing it as a piece of high preservation value for posterity. Shimada Kunisuke is the name of a swordsmith belonging to the Shimada school, a group of swordsmiths active primarily from the mid-Muromachi period to the mid-Edo period. It specifically refers to the individual known for the Shimada Hirosuke. He was the son of the first-generation Yoshisuke and was active in Shimada, Suruga Province (present-day Shizuoka Prefecture), characterized by a bold and ornate style. The Shimada school traces its origins to the founder, the first Yoshisuke, and produced master swordsmiths such as Sukemune and Hirosuke. They maintained close ties with the Soshu swordsmiths, and their practical, highly effective blades were favored by warlords throughout the Sengoku period. This signed katana with its appraisal certificate is making its debut on the market. If you are seeking a signed katana from the Koto period, this is an exceptional piece you absolutely must hold in your hands at least once. Blade length: 67.6 cm Curvature: 1.1 cm
NihontoWatchKunisuke國助
Offered by Tozando
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Suruga · around 1532-1555
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 63%
The Muromachi period (1392 to 1573)
Muromachi turned sword making into an industry: the uchigatana rose with massed infantry warfare, Osafune and Seki produced bundle swords beside custom orders, and the Ming trade carried Japanese blades abroad by the tens of thousands.
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 siteAs a general rule, returns/exchanges are not accepted on Japanese sword orders unless damaged upon delivery. Other items: returns/exchanges accepted within 7 days of delivery. Cancellation for personal reasons incurs a 30% restocking fee (70% refunded). Return shipping must be prepaid and insured by the buyer; shipping/handling fees are non-refundable. Contact katana@tozando.co.jp to initiate a return.