説明
Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Tegarayama Ujishige with
Tokubetsu Hozon
Certificate
【Description】
This blade was signed by Banshu Tagarayama Fujiwara Ujishige (播州手柄山藤原氏繁) during the late Edo period. Banshu is another name for Harima province in today’s Hyogo prefecture. Tegarayama is the school Ujishige belonged to. The maker’s name, Ujishige, lasted a few generations.
First, Ujishige signed 氏重. While the name’s pronunciation was the same, a different Kanji character was used for the second letter. They used 氏重 as their maker’s name between the 1 -3 generations. And they received Yamato Daijo, an honorable official title from the imperial court, for their excellent craftsmanship. However, the fourth generation Ujishige had to change it to 氏繁 by the order made by Harima province. In 1788, the 4th-gen Ujishige was hired by Matsudaira Sadanobu, the third head of Shirakawa domain in Fukushima prefecture, as an Okakaekaji. Okakaekaji is a swordsmith exclusively serving one domain or lord. And the 4th-gen Ujishige was also forged in Edo city (Today’s Tokyo). He received Kai no Kami in 1803, being acknowledged by Matsudaira Sadanobu.
It is said that one of the blades forged by the 4th-gen Ujishige was owned by Nagakura Shinpachi, a member of Shinsengumi (新選組), a military unit formed as guards or Shogun at the end of the Edo period.
The school’s name Tagarama came from the fact that they forged blades near Tegarayama mountain. Tegara means achievement in Japanese, and because of this auspicious name, the blades made by members of Tegarama school were popular among high-class Samurai.
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.
【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)
:
69.8 cm( 27.5 inches)
Curvature(Sori)
:
1.5 cm(0.59 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
Nakago
:
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.
Habaki
:
Habaki is the equipment to make the blade not touch its scabbard inside. It prevents the blade from getting rusty and chipped.
Authentication Paper
:
NBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade (No. 1018716)
NBTHK
, also known as Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai (the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), is one of the oldest Japanese sword appraising organizations in modern-day Japan. They authenticated the blade on August 25th in the 4th year of Reiwa (2022). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society. The purchaser will receive this original certificate as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a
PDF file
for your record if you request.
Registration Number :
Osaka 16891
The Board of Education in Osaka prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword. It is called Jyu Hou Token Rui Tourokusho (銃砲刀剣類登録証). Bunkacho (The Agency for Cultural Affairs) acknowledges a Japanese sword with this paper as a work of art.
The sword needs to be traditionally hand-forged and made of Tamahagane carbon steel to be registered in the system. With this paper, its owner in Japan can legally own an authentic Japanese sword. Based on this registration number, we will apply for its export permit.
This paper will need to be returned to the board of education when the sword is being shipped abroad, but you can receive a copy of it. An English translation of this registra
