Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Shimada NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the blade

附属品

NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the blade, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support

Category

Katana (KOTO: 古刀)

Age

Late Muromachi Period (Early-Mid 16th century)

Location

Suruga province (Shizuoka prefecture)

登録証

Tokyo 329220

販売店の記載のまま

This blade is attributed to a work of Shimada school, according to NBTHK’s appraisal. Shimada school was founded by Yoshisuke (義助) during the mid-Muromachi period and lasted by the late Edo period. The group of Shimada swordsmiths resided in Shimada city, Suruga province (today’s Shizuoka prefecture). Other famous swordsmiths from this school are Sukemune, Hirotsugu, and Sadahiro. The first-gen Yoshisuke was active during the Kosho era (1455-57). It is said that the first-gen Yoshisuke was a descendant of Bizen Ichimonji Sukemune, one of the most famous swordsmiths in Japanese history. The first-gen Yoshisuke served a powerful feudal family named Imagawa. It is said that he received his maker’s name 義 from Imagawa Yoshitada. Shimada school interacted with other schools in Soshu swordsmiths living near Odawara castle in Kanagawa prefecture. The Suruga domain was vital for strong feudal lords such as Takeda, Tokugawa, and Hojo clan during the Sengoku Jidai (Warring state period: Late Muromachi period). The swordsmiths in Shimada school received many orders from these powerful feudal families. The first-gen Yoshisuke had mastered excellent craftsmanship, and it was passed down to swordsmiths in Shimada school. Soshu Den It is said that the generations of Sukemune mastered a particular sword-forging tradition called Soshu Den. Shoshu Den was born in the middle of the Kamakura period. Back then, the Yamato and Yamashiro traditions were highly developed, and there were a few renowned swordsmiths from those regions. However, the sword-forging practice was in its infancy in the Kanto area, where the Soshu region was located. At the beginning of the Kamakura government, which was established in 1185, the first Shogun, Minamoto Yoritomo, prioritized making a lot of rules to have its political stability. And he couldn’t afford to hire swordsmiths within the same region or train them. Therefore, the Kamakura government originally ordered weapons to the swordsmiths in the other areas, such as Yamato and Yamashiro. But, since the government was established, the demand for weapons increased exponentially in the government, and they had to figure out how to meet those demands from Samurai who served Kamakura shogunate. Then, the 5th head of the Shogun, Hojo Tokiyori, invited two renowned swordsmiths from other parts of Japan. They were Awataguchi Kunitsuna from Yamashiro province and Bizen Saburo Kunimune from Bizen province. And the 7th-gen Shogun Koreyasu Shino also invited Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane from Bizen province. It is said that those three swordsmiths played an essential role in creating the Soshu Den and making the foundation of the Soshu Den. Also another famous figure in the Soshu den is Intou Kunimitsu, an adopted son of Awataguchi Knitsuna. And Kunimitsu passed his excellent craftsmanship to Yukimitsu, his apprentice. And Masamune, one of the most famous swordsmiths in Japanese history, was an apprentice of Yukimitsu. And Masamune was the one that brought Shoshuden to nationwide fame. The tradition Masamune completed became an example of other swordsmiths who learned Soshu Den. Also, Soshu Den influenced many renowned swordsmiths during the Koto- Shinto era. One of examples is Inoue Shinkai from Osaka and Suishinshi Masahide from Edo. This blade is appraised as a Hozon Touken (保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai: 日本美術刀剣保存協会). *Please note that this blade has a few black rust spots. If you would like more details about its condition, please feel free to contact us. Tsuka and Menuki We believe the theme of this Menuki is Sasa (笹:bamboo glass). Bamboos grow neatly towards the sky, and it is vital so that this motif represents nobility and strength. Besides, the bamboo breaks straight, but its content is hollow; people thought it showed innocence. According to a foreign legend, the Houhou (鳳凰, Fenghuang) eats bamboo fruits; therefore, bamboo has been considered a sacred plant. Also, as it keeps its green color even in cold winter, people thought the bamboo pattern represented eternity and longevity. Tsuba and Habaki This circular iron Tsuba features a floral motif that appears to represent Japanese apricot blossoms (梅, Ume). The flowers are decorated with gold inlay (金象嵌, Kin Zogan), a technique in which gold is set into the surface of the base metal to create decorative patterns. The warm glow of the gold adds an elegant contrast to the iron ground, highlighting the delicate blossoms. Japanese apricot blossoms begin to bloom in late winter, sometimes while snow still rests on their branches, heralding the arrival of spring. Like cherry blossoms, they have long been cherished in Japan for their delicate petals, sweet fragrance, and gracefully branching trees, inspiring countless poems. As they bloom despite the cold, they symbolize perseverance and vitality. Saya This saya features raden(螺鈿) craftsmanship, a traditional Japanese decorative technique. Raden involves inlaying or embedding thin pieces of shell, such as mother-of-pearl or abalone, into lacquer or other materials. The shimmering, iridescent quality of the shells creates a striking visual effect, reflecting light in a play of colors that range from soft pastels to vivid hues. This technique has been used in Japan for centuries, adorning everything from furniture to accessories and weapons, showcasing the skill and artistry of the craftsman. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on December 1st in the 7th year of Reiwa (2025). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society.