Perry’s arrival in 1853 unraveled the Tokugawa peace and created the first mass demand for working swords in two centuries. Kiyomaro, called the Masamune of Yotsuya, died on its eve; Munetsugu and Yukihide carried the boom to the end.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchThis piece is in excellent preservation condition and is of great beauty. Typical Bakumatsu sword features, such as shallow curvature and large kissaki, can be seen on this sword. The hada is a well-packed itame hada that enjoys active layers such as chikei. Hamon is suguha with ko-gunome mixed in places. This was made when he lived in Osaka, and on the back of the nakago is engraved December 1867, the month this sword was made. His works made after the Meiji period are available in the market, but those made in the Edo period are rare and valuable. Sato Kanzan, an authority in the appraisal of Japanese swords, certified this piece as the work of Sadakazu I, and wrote as such on the scabbard. Blade length: 76.3 cm Curvature: 1.0 cm Number of Mekugi hole: 2 Sakihaba: 27.3 mm Sakikasane: 6.2 mm Motohaba: 35.2 mm Motokasane: 8.1 mm Signature: No Signature Era: Koto Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune Jigane: Masame Hamon: Hoso-suguha Boshi: Komaru ni Kaeru Weight(without Saya): 1,210 g Nakago: Ubu Original Registration No.: Tokyo 168120 Please contact us if the katana you are looking for is not listed here.
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Shinshinto · Settsu · around 1864-1865
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 23%
7 pieces on the market now
Where Sadakazu stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
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Shinshinto · Settsu
27 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sadaharu貞晴 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1926-1989 | 0 |
| Yoshiaki吉明 | 1844-1848 | 0 |
| Naonobu直信 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1830-1863 | 0 |
Bakumatsu: the last war market
Perry’s arrival in 1853 unraveled the Tokugawa peace and created the first mass demand for working swords in two centuries. Kiyomaro, called the Masamune of Yotsuya, died on its eve; Munetsugu and Yukihide carried the boom to the end.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
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.