After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchThis blade was signed Nōshū Sōdōjima Sugawara no Jō Hisakatsu (濃州草道嶋菅原尉久勝). The inscription indicates that it was forged in Sōdōjima, a village in Anpachi District, Mino Province (present-day Kusadōjima-chō, Ōgaki City, Gifu Prefecture), and is dated to 1513 (Eishō 10), during the late Muromachi period. Hisakatsu was a swordsmith active from the Meiō era (1492–1501) through the Eishō era (1504–1521). He belonged to the Akasaka Senjuin School, a branch of the Yamato tradition that flourished in Akasaka, Mino Province (present-day Akasaka-chō, Ōgaki City, Gifu Prefecture). Although he worked in Mino, his swords retain many of the distinctive characteristics of the Yamato tradition, making his work notable for combining Mino craftsmanship with the refined style of one of Japan’s oldest swordmaking traditions. Senjuin School in Yamato region There was a temple called Senjudo in Nara prefecture where Senju Kannon (千手観音, Thousand arms) Budha statue was worshiped. And a group of swordsmiths who lived there was known as Senjuin (千手院). They belonged to Todaji temple. Senjuin School was founded by Yukinobu, who was the son of Yoshiyuki. Yukinonobu was originally a servant for Senjuin temple, a branch of Todaiji temple during the late Heian period (1086-1107), and eventually became an Okakae Kaji for the temple. Tachi Koshirae This blade is stored in Tachi(太刀) Koshirae. Tachi was mainly used by an armored Samurai with one hand on horseback from the Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) until the early Muromachi period. TACHI was suspended loosely on the left waist with its edge facing the ground so that you could draw it faster to cut down soldiers on the ground. Because of its gorgeous looking, having a Tachi-style sword mounting became a social status among Samurai. Homare Kizu (誉疵） We see what appears to be a Homare Kizu (誉疵), which tells us that this blade was used in a battle. Homare means honorable, and Homare Kizu is considered a good blade characteristic that tells us its history. It is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token (特別保存刀剣) 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 Kitae Kizu on the Mune (backbone of the blade). Koshirae This blade is stored in Tachi(太刀) Koshirae. Tachi was mainly used by an armored Samurai with one hand on horseback from the Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) until the early Muromachi period. TACHI was suspended loosely on the left waist with its edge facing the ground so that you could draw it faster to cut down soldiers on the ground. Because of its gorgeous looking, having a Tachi-style sword mounting became a social status among Samurai. This koshirae is decorated with chrysanthemum crests (kikka-mon, 菊花紋) and the Go-san no Kiri (五三の桐) motif, both of which have long been associated in Japan with nobility, authority, and auspicious symbolism. The chrysanthemum crest is closely linked to the Imperial family, while the paulownia motif has historically been used by the Imperial court and later by powerful political and military leaders. Together, these motifs lend the piece a dignified and prestigious character. The Go-san no Kiri motif—literally “five-three-five,” referring to the arrangement of its paulownia flowers—appears in several variations. Designs with fewer flowers were more commonly used by the general public, whereas those with a greater number of blossoms were associated with higher rank and prestige. According to tradition, the hōō (鳳凰, Fenghuang), a mythical phoenix-like creature, is said to rest only upon the paulownia tree, further reinforcing its status as a sacred and noble symbol. Tsuba and Habaki This Tsuba is made in a yotsu-mokkō-gata (四つ木瓜形) form, a classic outline derived from the rounded, lobed shape of a sliced gourd. At the four corners you can see inome (猪目, boar’s eye) cutouts, also described as inome-sukashi. Because of their curved point-and-lobe profile, they often look like small heart shapes at a glance, and they are not just decorative. Inome are widely used as an apotropaic motif, believed to help ward off evil and misfortune while also adding lightness and rhythm to the design. The background of the tsuba is finished with a textured surface known as nanako-ji (魚々子地), a traditional decorative technique in Japanese metalwork. This surface is created by meticulously punching countless tiny dots into the metal, resulting in a fine, beaded texture that resembles a field of fish roe. Nanako-ji was often used to highlight the contrast between the smooth raised motifs and the textured background, showcasing the artisan’s skill and adding refined elegance to the piece. Saya The Taiko Kanagu (太鼓金具) on this Saya is decorated with the Mitsuuroko family crest. The name Mitsuuroko comes from the way three connected triangles resembles the scales (uroko) of a snake, and ‘mitsu’ means three, so it came to be called Mitsuuroko (three scales). The motif has been used in Japan since ancient times and can even be seen in wall paintings from the Kofun period (古墳時代). It is well known for its protective, talismanic power against evil, and one of the most famous Samurai families to use this crest was the Hojo clan (北条氏). In addition, this Saya is finished woth Nashiji laquer (梨地塗り), a technique that creates a subtle, pear-skin texture with a softly shimmering surface, and decorated with Gosan no Kiri family crest (五三桐). Gosan-no-Kiri Monyou (五三の桐文様) is a popular design that the paulownia motif is used. This pattern was once used by the imperial family and people in authority at that time. Today, it is permitted to use by ordinary households and is appreciated as their family crests. According to a tradition, Houou (鳳凰, Fenghuang, a kind of sacred beast) rests its wings at the paulownia tree; therefore, it has come to be regarded as a holy plant. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on December 4th in the 6th year of Reiwa (2024). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society.
Offered by Samurai Museum
The Muromachi period (1392 to 1573)
After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
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 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.
¥3,200,000