Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Sagami no Kami Hiroshige with NBTHK Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Sagami no Kami Fujiwara Hiroshige (相模守藤原広重), who was active during the early Edo period (1624-1644). He was known as the second-gen Hiroshige. The first-gen Hiroshige, his father was the fourth son of the Terushige. Hiroshige belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today’s Tokyo (Hachioji city).It is said that Yamamoto Norishige founded the school, and it thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period (Late 16th century to Late 19th century). One of the famous apprentice who learned from this founder was Terushige. The first-gen Hiroshige first learned sword-forging techniques from his father and founded his own branch. Sagami no Kami Fujiwara Hiroshige was born as the first son and his birth name was Yamamoto Fujiemon. Shitahara school is the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara started to serve the Tokugawa clan as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith’s real sir name was Yamamoto. They especially flourished during the late Muromachi period-early Edo period. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period. Among the Bushu Shitahara group, Hiroshige was one of the most famous ones. The maker’s name, Hiroshige, lasted for several generations. 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). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there are slightly visible Hike Kizu (scratch caused by unsheathing/sheathing the blade) and Kitae Kizu on the blade. If you like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa) : 60.5 cm ( 23.8 inches) Curvature (Sori) : 1.2 cm (0.47 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. 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 its sword hilt. You would find the figures of several birds. Many leaves surround the birds, some of which look like bamboo leaves. Seeing the appearance of these birds, we estimate they are Sagis (鷺, heron). Since ancient times, some animals have been considered messengers of the gods, and the heron is one of them. In Japan, there is an idea that worships herons as the symbol of plentiful harvest, and there are many shrines whose names have “Sagi (鷺).” Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. Although it is challenging to determine the motif of this Menuki based on what we could see through the gaps of the Tsukamaki thread, the spinning wheel with an animal, such as a mouse or a monkey, is designed here. It is an adorable work that shows how they handle tools as if they were humans. Tsuba and Habaki : Tsuba is the handguard for the Japanese Sword and Habaki is the equipment to make the blade not touch its scabbard inside. It prevents the blade from getting rusty and chipped. The design of

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Sagami no Kami Hiroshige with NBTHK Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Sagami no Kami Fujiwara Hiroshige (相模守藤原広重), who was active during the early Edo period (1624-1644). He was known as the second-gen Hiroshige. The first-gen Hiroshige, his father was the fourth son of the Terushige. Hiroshige belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today’s Tokyo (Hachioji city).It is said that Yamamoto Norishige founded the school, and it thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period (Late 16th century to Late 19th century). One of the famous apprentice who learned from this founder was Terushige. The first-gen Hiroshige first learned sword-forging techniques from his father and founded his own branch. Sagami no Kami Fujiwara Hiroshige was born as the first son and his birth name was Yamamoto Fujiemon. Shitahara school is the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara started to serve the Tokugawa clan as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith’s real sir name was Yamamoto. They especially flourished during the late Muromachi period-early Edo period. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period. Among the Bushu Shitahara group, Hiroshige was one of the most famous ones. The maker’s name, Hiroshige, lasted for several generations. 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). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there are slightly visible Hike Kizu (scratch caused by unsheathing/sheathing the blade) and Kitae Kizu on the blade. If you like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa) : 60.5 cm ( 23.8 inches) Curvature (Sori) : 1.2 cm (0.47 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. 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 its sword hilt. You would find the figures of several birds. Many leaves surround the birds, some of which look like bamboo leaves. Seeing the appearance of these birds, we estimate they are Sagis (鷺, heron). Since ancient times, some animals have been considered messengers of the gods, and the heron is one of them. In Japan, there is an idea that worships herons as the symbol of plentiful harvest, and there are many shrines whose names have “Sagi (鷺).” Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. Although it is challenging to determine the motif of this Menuki based on what we could see through the gaps of the Tsukamaki thread, the spinning wheel with an animal, such as a mouse or a monkey, is designed here. It is an adorable work that shows how they handle tools as if they were humans. Tsuba and Habaki : Tsuba is the handguard for the Japanese Sword and Habaki is the equipment to make the blade not touch its scabbard inside. It prevents the blade from getting rusty and chipped. The design of