Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Yoshikuni with NBTHK Tokubestsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Yoshikuni (義国) in February, the 4th year of the Keio era ( 1868 : the early Meiji era). He is also known as the name Yonezawa Ju Yoshikuni (米沢住義国) or Dewakoku Ju Kato Yoshikuni (出羽国住加藤義国). Yonezawa (米沢) was the biggest city in Hashu province (today’s Yamagata prefecture). It is also known as Dewa Koku (出羽国). Yoshikuni learned the excellent sword-forging skills from Kato Tsunatoshi (加藤綱俊), who was known as a top-tier swordsmith. Tsunatoshi was born in 1798 in Yonezawa city, Hashu province as the third son of Izumi no Kami Kunihide (和泉守国英). His family name was Kato, and he was the younger brother of Kato Tsunahide (加藤綱英). Tsunatoshi’s real name was Kato Hachiro. Tsunatoshi served Yonezawa Uesugi clan, a powerful feudal lord in today’s Yamagata prefecture. During his early career, he moved to Edo city to learn superb sword-forging techniques from Suishinshi Masahide, one of the most renowned swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. There is also a record of him forging swords in Osaka and Kumamoto while his base was in Azabu town in Edo city (today’s Tokyo). He settled in Edo city around 1823, and he created most of his work. He started to run his school there and resided in the house of Uesugi family. It is said that he received a stipend from them. He received the honorable title Chounsai (長運斎) in the first year of the Bunka era (1854). And, he gave this title to his son Koretoshi (the second-gen Tsunatoshi) in 1856, and he got the new title Chojyusai (長寿斎). Chojyu means living a long life in Japanese. The school Tsunatoshi belonged to flourished at the end of the Edo period, training many swordsmiths who later became historically significant ones, such as Koyama Munetsugu, Takahashi Naganobu, Ishido Korekazu. Tsunatoshi excelled at forging Bizen-Den tradition swords with Choji Midare Hamon, an irregular, wavy tempering line. Most of Tsunatoshi’s work reflects Bizen Den (One of the Five Japanese sword-forging traditions). In terms of Bizen Den tradition swords, it is said that Tsunatoshi school surpassed Suishinshi Masahide school. Tsunatoshi died at the age of 66 in December 1863 after creating many great swords for high-class Samurais in Edo city. He is categorized as one of the top-tier swordsmiths during the late Edo period (SHIN SHIN TO era). And, he was the head of the prosperous school at the end of the Edo period. Judging from the fact that Yoshikuni was an apprentice of Kato Tsunatoshi, his craftsmanship must also have been excellent. This blade 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). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, especially well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there are a couple of tiny black rust and Kitae Kizu on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 31.1 cm (12.2 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 0.2 cm (0.07 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process Jimon(Jihada) : visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process Kissaki : Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword. Kissaki : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged. Koshirae :Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya (Scabbard), Tsuka (Handle), Tsuba (Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of

Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Yoshikuni with NBTHK Tokubestsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Yoshikuni (義国) in February, the 4th year of the Keio era ( 1868 : the early Meiji era). He is also known as the name Yonezawa Ju Yoshikuni (米沢住義国) or Dewakoku Ju Kato Yoshikuni (出羽国住加藤義国). Yonezawa (米沢) was the biggest city in Hashu province (today’s Yamagata prefecture). It is also known as Dewa Koku (出羽国). Yoshikuni learned the excellent sword-forging skills from Kato Tsunatoshi (加藤綱俊), who was known as a top-tier swordsmith. Tsunatoshi was born in 1798 in Yonezawa city, Hashu province as the third son of Izumi no Kami Kunihide (和泉守国英). His family name was Kato, and he was the younger brother of Kato Tsunahide (加藤綱英). Tsunatoshi’s real name was Kato Hachiro. Tsunatoshi served Yonezawa Uesugi clan, a powerful feudal lord in today’s Yamagata prefecture. During his early career, he moved to Edo city to learn superb sword-forging techniques from Suishinshi Masahide, one of the most renowned swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. There is also a record of him forging swords in Osaka and Kumamoto while his base was in Azabu town in Edo city (today’s Tokyo). He settled in Edo city around 1823, and he created most of his work. He started to run his school there and resided in the house of Uesugi family. It is said that he received a stipend from them. He received the honorable title Chounsai (長運斎) in the first year of the Bunka era (1854). And, he gave this title to his son Koretoshi (the second-gen Tsunatoshi) in 1856, and he got the new title Chojyusai (長寿斎). Chojyu means living a long life in Japanese. The school Tsunatoshi belonged to flourished at the end of the Edo period, training many swordsmiths who later became historically significant ones, such as Koyama Munetsugu, Takahashi Naganobu, Ishido Korekazu. Tsunatoshi excelled at forging Bizen-Den tradition swords with Choji Midare Hamon, an irregular, wavy tempering line. Most of Tsunatoshi’s work reflects Bizen Den (One of the Five Japanese sword-forging traditions). In terms of Bizen Den tradition swords, it is said that Tsunatoshi school surpassed Suishinshi Masahide school. Tsunatoshi died at the age of 66 in December 1863 after creating many great swords for high-class Samurais in Edo city. He is categorized as one of the top-tier swordsmiths during the late Edo period (SHIN SHIN TO era). And, he was the head of the prosperous school at the end of the Edo period. Judging from the fact that Yoshikuni was an apprentice of Kato Tsunatoshi, his craftsmanship must also have been excellent. This blade 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). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, especially well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there are a couple of tiny black rust and Kitae Kizu on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 31.1 cm (12.2 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 0.2 cm (0.07 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process Jimon(Jihada) : visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process Kissaki : Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword. Kissaki : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged. Koshirae :Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya (Scabbard), Tsuka (Handle), Tsuba (Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of