Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Seiryuken Moritoshi with NTHK Kanteisho Certificate 【Description】 According to NTHK’s appraisal, this blade is attributed to Seiryuken Moritoshi (青龍軒盛俊) during the Genji era ( 1864-1865 : The end of the Edo period ). Moritoshi is one of the most renowned swordsmiths in the Choshu domain at the end of the Edo period (Bakumatsu era). In the second year of the Kyowa (1802), he was born in Iwakuni city, Suo province (Yamaguchi prefecture). His birth name was Iwamoto Kyozaemon. Firstly, he was studying sword-forging techniques in Yamaguchi prefecture but moved to Edo city to become an apprentice of Chounsai Tsunatoshi ( 長運斎綱俊 ). Moreover, he also learned from Koyama Munetsugu ( 固山宗次 ), an apprentice of Tsunatoshi. Both were very popular in Edo city at the end of the Edo period. One year later, he was allowed to sign Moritoshi as his maker’s name, returning to Iwakuni city. He firstly named himself Seiryushi (a child of Blue Dragon) and then changed it to Seiryuken (A house of Blue Dragon). According to Chiyozuru Korehide, another student of Tsunatoshi, the son of Tsunatoshi (Koretoshi), was sent to Morihide to be trained under his roof when Korehide was 12 years old. This fact indicates that Moritoshi was trusted by his master very much, and his craftsmanship was highly appreciated. Furthermore, Moritoshi also trained Morihide, the second-gen Moritoshi, and other swordsmiths. It is said that Moritoshi was very passionate about studying different sword-forging techniques. Nine years after his first apprenticeship, he returned to Edo city to learn from Tsunatoshi. Moreover, he traveled through Kanto, Sanin, Kyushu area to improve his craftsmanship from other swordsmiths. Whenever he heard that there were reputable swordsmiths, he visited there and learned their techniques. He was excellent at forging swords in Bizen Den tradition, which he learned from his master. Eventually, he became an Okakaekaji for the Yoshikawa clan, who ruled Iwakuni city. Yoshikawa clan was under the Mori family’s rule, and they were considered a branch of the Choshu domain. We assume Moritoshi forged many swords for members or vassals of Mori clans during the end of the Edo period. He died on April 25th in the third year of the Keio era (1867) at 66 years of age. It is said that he kept forging swords right before his death. His apprentice Morihide arranged a tombstone for his master. That indicates that Moritoshi and Morihide had close ties and a good master-apprentice relationship. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 68.8 cm( 27.1 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.97 cm (0.77 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. This Fuchi Kashira has a decorative look thanks to its design. The golden and silvery paints are applied to chrysanthemums and water patterns. We would judge this theme as a type of the Kikusui (菊水) pattern. It depicts chrysanthemum flowers floating in running water. Since a long time ago, the Kikusui pattern has been known as a design that represents longevity based on a legend in the Continent. It says we could extend our lifespan by drinking water flowing from the chrysanthemum colony. Therefore, people treated this design as a kind of

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Seiryuken Moritoshi with NTHK Kanteisho Certificate 【Description】 According to NTHK’s appraisal, this blade is attributed to Seiryuken Moritoshi (青龍軒盛俊) during the Genji era ( 1864-1865 : The end of the Edo period ). Moritoshi is one of the most renowned swordsmiths in the Choshu domain at the end of the Edo period (Bakumatsu era). In the second year of the Kyowa (1802), he was born in Iwakuni city, Suo province (Yamaguchi prefecture). His birth name was Iwamoto Kyozaemon. Firstly, he was studying sword-forging techniques in Yamaguchi prefecture but moved to Edo city to become an apprentice of Chounsai Tsunatoshi ( 長運斎綱俊 ). Moreover, he also learned from Koyama Munetsugu ( 固山宗次 ), an apprentice of Tsunatoshi. Both were very popular in Edo city at the end of the Edo period. One year later, he was allowed to sign Moritoshi as his maker’s name, returning to Iwakuni city. He firstly named himself Seiryushi (a child of Blue Dragon) and then changed it to Seiryuken (A house of Blue Dragon). According to Chiyozuru Korehide, another student of Tsunatoshi, the son of Tsunatoshi (Koretoshi), was sent to Morihide to be trained under his roof when Korehide was 12 years old. This fact indicates that Moritoshi was trusted by his master very much, and his craftsmanship was highly appreciated. Furthermore, Moritoshi also trained Morihide, the second-gen Moritoshi, and other swordsmiths. It is said that Moritoshi was very passionate about studying different sword-forging techniques. Nine years after his first apprenticeship, he returned to Edo city to learn from Tsunatoshi. Moreover, he traveled through Kanto, Sanin, Kyushu area to improve his craftsmanship from other swordsmiths. Whenever he heard that there were reputable swordsmiths, he visited there and learned their techniques. He was excellent at forging swords in Bizen Den tradition, which he learned from his master. Eventually, he became an Okakaekaji for the Yoshikawa clan, who ruled Iwakuni city. Yoshikawa clan was under the Mori family’s rule, and they were considered a branch of the Choshu domain. We assume Moritoshi forged many swords for members or vassals of Mori clans during the end of the Edo period. He died on April 25th in the third year of the Keio era (1867) at 66 years of age. It is said that he kept forging swords right before his death. His apprentice Morihide arranged a tombstone for his master. That indicates that Moritoshi and Morihide had close ties and a good master-apprentice relationship. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 68.8 cm( 27.1 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.97 cm (0.77 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. This Fuchi Kashira has a decorative look thanks to its design. The golden and silvery paints are applied to chrysanthemums and water patterns. We would judge this theme as a type of the Kikusui (菊水) pattern. It depicts chrysanthemum flowers floating in running water. Since a long time ago, the Kikusui pattern has been known as a design that represents longevity based on a legend in the Continent. It says we could extend our lifespan by drinking water flowing from the chrysanthemum colony. Therefore, people treated this design as a kind of