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.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchThis blade was signed by Katsumitsu (勝光). And according to its NBTHK appraisal, it was made by Kashu Katsumitsu, who was especially active during the late Muromachi period (Dai-Ei era: 1521-1528). It is said that he kept forging swords until Azuchi Momoyama period. While this blade was shortened (Suriage) at least once in the past, its signature beautifully remains on the tang. Kashu is the province’s name in Today’s Ishikawa prefecture, and it is also known as Kaga province. Katsumitsu resided in this province, forging swords for a living. This province was ruled by Maeda clan when Katsumitsu was alive. Maeda clan was originally a retainer of Oda family, who ruled Owari province. (today’s Nagoya area in Aichi prefecture) The first head of the Maeda clan was Toshie Maeda. He climbed the social ladder of Samurai society, and he became the feudal lord of Kaga Province(today’s Ishikawa prefecture). It is said that he had a vast rice fief that fed 100 million grown-up adults, which is called Hyakuman Goku. The Maeda clan was one of the most powerful lines in Samurai history. Toshie Maeda had a close tie with Oda Nobunaga and Hideyoshi Toyotomi. This blade was created in the middle of Sengoku Jidai(warring state period: late 15th -late 16th century). There was fierce rivalry among strong feudal lords over lands, political power, and natural resources during this time. We believe Katsumitsu might have forged swords for Samurai warriors living in Kaga domain since he served Maeda clan. This blade is appraised as a Hozon Token(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 few Kitae Kizu on this blade. Fuchi-Kashira This Fuchi Kashira has a simple look. Golden lines add decorativeness to this work. Instead of finely carved designs, you could directly enjoy the metal material’s texture. Due to aging, there are minor damages; it would tell you its long history. We hope you would appreciate it as a part of an antique touch. Tsuka and Menuki People are the models of this Menuki. As we cannot see the entire Menuki’s appearance, it is challenging to judge their figure. It seems a man is wearing a Kimono-like cloth, and another man is dressed like a fisherman. The designs of people or stories are often expressed based on myths, legends, past events, Noh (能, a kind of classical Japanese dance-drama), and Japanese poetry. These men might have been quoted from any stories or legends. Tsuba and Habaki Oval-shaped Tsuba is made from iron. Some parts are colored with golden paint (probably gold or brass), and this coloring makes this Tsuba looks more ornamentally. This Tsuba depicts a scenery of a landscape. The view of the mountains covered with clouds and the appearance of overgrown trees near the waterside are depicted. Saya Please keep in mind that there are a couple of places where you can see the trace of restoration on this Saya. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on Feb 1st in the third year of Reiwa (1989). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society.
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Kaga · around 1521-1528
Tōken Taikan top 76%
1 piece on the market now
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.
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