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.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchLate Muromachi Period, Tenbun Era (1532–1555 CE) | NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate A superb Sengoku-period katana by Sadamori of the Taira Takada school, distinguished by its original ubu nakago and spectacular jūka-chōji midare reminiscent of the flamboyant masterpieces of the Bizen Ichimonji tradition. This exceptional katana is signed Sadamori (定盛) and was made in Bungo Province during the Tenbun era (1532–1555), in the midst of Japan’s turbulent Sengoku period. The blade has been awarded Tokubetsu Hozon Token certification by the NBTHK, recognizing it as a Japanese sword of particularly high quality and importance worthy of preservation. Sadamori and the Taira Takada Tradition Sadamori was the son of Taira Nagamori (平長盛), who served the powerful Ōtomo clan, the great Sengoku daimyō family of Bungo Province in Kyushu. The Takada school had a long and distinguished history in Bungo, and during the Sengoku period its smiths supplied swords to warriors in an age when the practical qualities of a blade were of paramount importance. Sadamori is an especially interesting name within this tradition. Swords by Sadamori are also associated with Uesugi Yōzan (上杉鷹山), the celebrated daimyō of the Yonezawa Domain, who is known to have owned and carried a sword by this smith. This historical connection, combined with the blade's high-level workmanship, makes Sadamori particularly appealing among collectors of the Takada tradition. Spectacular Jūka-Chōji Midare The most striking feature of this sword is undoubtedly its magnificent jūka-chōji midare (重花丁字乱れ) hamon. The temper pattern is exceptionally flamboyant, with densely overlapping chōji formations creating an appearance strongly reminiscent of the great Bizen Ichimonji tradition. Rather than the more restrained temper patterns often associated with practical Sengoku-period swords, this blade displays an unusually luxurious and visually dramatic hamon. The jihada consists principally of itame-hada, with the grain standing clearly within the steel. Particularly attractive is the presence of midare-utsuri, a shadow-like pattern appearing across the ji and traditionally associated with sophisticated Bizen-style workmanship. The combination of pronounced itame, visible midare-utsuri, and brilliant jūka-chōji gives the blade exceptional visual depth. Viewed as a whole, the sword demonstrates how successfully the Taira Takada smiths could incorporate the aesthetic qualities of the Bizen tradition while retaining their own regional character. Ubu Nakago – Preserved in Its Original Form Another particularly desirable feature is the ubu nakago, meaning that the tang remains in its original, unshortened form. For a sword dating from the Sengoku period, preservation of the original tang is an important point of historical and collecting interest. It allows the blade to retain more of the form intended by its original maker and preserves the signed nakago without the alteration frequently encountered on older Japanese swords. Together with its strong attribution, excellent condition of form, and Tokubetsu Hozon certification, the ubu nakago significantly enhances the appeal of this sword as a serious collector's piece. Koshirae and Fittings The sword is accompanied by an elegant koshirae with a restrained and sophisticated appearance. The tsuka features deep reddish-purple wrapping over samegawa, creating an attractive contrast with the metal fittings. Small gold-colored details visible beneath the wrapping add a subtle decorative accent. The tsuba is an openwork design with rounded forms, while the black lacquered saya is exceptionally simple and elegant. Blue-green sageo provides a tasteful contrast against the glossy black lacquer. The overall mounting avoids excessive ornamentation, resulting in a dignified presentation that allows the dramatic workmanship of the blade itself to remain the primary focus. Collector’s Appeal This katana brings together several highly desirable qualities in a single sword: a named Sengoku-period smith, an ubu signed nakago, NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certification, beautiful midare-utsuri, and an exceptionally flamboyant jūka-chōji hamon. Most impressive is the contrast between its origins in war-torn 16th-century Bungo and the remarkable elegance of its workmanship. The gorgeous overlapping chōji evokes the celebrated aesthetics of Bizen Ichimonji, giving the blade a visual presence that stands apart from many other Takada works of the period. A highly attractive Sengoku-period sword combining the practical heritage of the Taira Takada school with the brilliant, flamboyant beauty of Bizen-inspired jūka-chōji workmanship. The blade comes with a Certificate of NBTHK Japan Sword Preservation Society - Tokubetsu Hozon Paper (Extremely Well-preserved sword)
Sadamori定盛
Offered by Samurai Store
As written by the shop
Bungo · around 1532-1555
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 76%
1 piece on the market now
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 accepted only for errors/damage: damaged or incorrect items reported by email within 10 calendar days; defective goods within 30 calendar days.
¥2,270,000