Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Yasukuni with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Musashi Taro Yasukuni (武蔵太郎安国) during the mid-Edo period. He was active during the Genroku-Kyoho era ( 1688-1736 ). Yasukuni belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today’s Hachioji city(southwest part of Tokyo). This school thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period (late 16C-Late 19C). His birth name was Yamamoto Touta, while his smith name changed over time, starting from Hiroshige (広重) and then Musashi Taro Yasukuni (武蔵太郎安国). He was born in Bushu Hachioji as the son of Touta Hiroshige. And, he moved to Edo city, becoming an apprentice of master Omura Kaboku (大村加卜), a famous swordsmith during the mid-Edo period. Kanboku was primarily working as a surgeon for Mito Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the Mito domain’s feudal lord (Ibaraki prefecture today). Mitsukuni was a grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and the first Shogun of the Edo government. Yasukuni is famous for having forged a sword for the general Mitsukuni because he received an order from the domain in 1685. Furthermore, in 1721, the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune ordered Yasukuni to participate in the sword-forging exhibition in Hamarikyu, the feudal lord’s residence in Edo. Shogun Yoshimune invited renowned swordsmiths there to compete for their craftsmanship. These facts indicate Yasukuni was acknowledged as a top-tier swordsmith in the mid-Edo period. We believe this Katana was ordered by a high-class Samurai official based on its elegant look. Shitahara school, where Yasukuni belonged, had been the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith’s real sir name was Yamamoto. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara swordsmiths served the Tokugawa clan. They were known as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period. On the tang of this blade, his smith name, Musashi Taro Yasuhiro is engraved on the front and the other side says Ma Jyugo Mai Kobuse Saku(真十五枚甲伏作). Ma Jyugo Koubuse was a particular sword forging method/technique his master and he applied when forging swords. 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 is a noticeable Kiatae Kizu on the Mune (backbone of the blade). If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 68.9 cm( 27.1 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. Butterflies are designed for this Fuchi Kashira. It looks silvery metal was initially applied to these motifs. They spread their wings and fly around; their elegant figures are beautifully depicted. The butterfly pattern has been used for family crests. It is famous that the Taira (平) cla

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Yasukuni with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Musashi Taro Yasukuni (武蔵太郎安国) during the mid-Edo period. He was active during the Genroku-Kyoho era ( 1688-1736 ). Yasukuni belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today’s Hachioji city(southwest part of Tokyo). This school thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period (late 16C-Late 19C). His birth name was Yamamoto Touta, while his smith name changed over time, starting from Hiroshige (広重) and then Musashi Taro Yasukuni (武蔵太郎安国). He was born in Bushu Hachioji as the son of Touta Hiroshige. And, he moved to Edo city, becoming an apprentice of master Omura Kaboku (大村加卜), a famous swordsmith during the mid-Edo period. Kanboku was primarily working as a surgeon for Mito Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the Mito domain’s feudal lord (Ibaraki prefecture today). Mitsukuni was a grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and the first Shogun of the Edo government. Yasukuni is famous for having forged a sword for the general Mitsukuni because he received an order from the domain in 1685. Furthermore, in 1721, the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune ordered Yasukuni to participate in the sword-forging exhibition in Hamarikyu, the feudal lord’s residence in Edo. Shogun Yoshimune invited renowned swordsmiths there to compete for their craftsmanship. These facts indicate Yasukuni was acknowledged as a top-tier swordsmith in the mid-Edo period. We believe this Katana was ordered by a high-class Samurai official based on its elegant look. Shitahara school, where Yasukuni belonged, had been the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith’s real sir name was Yamamoto. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara swordsmiths served the Tokugawa clan. They were known as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period. On the tang of this blade, his smith name, Musashi Taro Yasuhiro is engraved on the front and the other side says Ma Jyugo Mai Kobuse Saku(真十五枚甲伏作). Ma Jyugo Koubuse was a particular sword forging method/technique his master and he applied when forging swords. 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 is a noticeable Kiatae Kizu on the Mune (backbone of the blade). If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 68.9 cm( 27.1 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. Butterflies are designed for this Fuchi Kashira. It looks silvery metal was initially applied to these motifs. They spread their wings and fly around; their elegant figures are beautifully depicted. The butterfly pattern has been used for family crests. It is famous that the Taira (平) cla