Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Fujiwara Jyumyo with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Summary This blade was signed by Bishu Jyu Fujiwara Jyumyo (尾州藤原寿命). According to NBTHK, this blade was made during the early-mid Edo period. While its authentication paper does not mention the approximate age, we called NBTHK to confirm this information. Bishu is also known as Owari province (尾張), located in today’s Aichi prefecture. Fujiwara Jyumyo resided in Bishu when he forged this blade. The swordsmith name Jyumyo (Toshinaga) lasted five generations from the early-late Edo period in Owari province. This blade is the work of the later-gen Jyumyo during the early-Mid Edo period. Owari Jyumyo school was founded by the first-gen Jyumyo, whose birth name was Kondo Sukezaemon (近藤助左衛門). The first-gen Jyumyo was born in the fifth year of the Tensho era (1575) in Mino province and moved to Owari province during the Keicho era (1596-1615). He signed as Ganmaku Jyumyo (岩捲寿命). He received the honorable title Tango no Kami (丹後守) in the second year of Kanei (1625). And, he started to serve Owari Tokugawa clan near Nagoya castle. The generations of Jyumyo forged blades for this clan by the end of the Edo period. We assume there was much demand among high-class Samurai to order swords forged by Jyumyo because Owari province(today’s Aichi prefecture) was active in martial arts during the early-mid Edo period. Furthermore, The name “JYUMYO” means life span or longevity. As it has great meaning, their swords were appreciated as gifts to feudal lords or high-class Samurai among the SAMURAI society. The Origin of Jyumyo School The JYUMYO school has its origins from YAMATO(NARA Pref.) and moved to Mino province in the KAMAKURA period. The tradition continued for centuries, right up until the end of the EDO period. The MINO swordsmiths style, also known as MINO-DEN, basically has the TOGARI(Pointed shapes protruding from the Hamon )in a classic straight line and random temper line with some white Utsuri. MINO-DEN had its origin from YAMATO-DEN in the late KAMAKURA period(1280-1330). It flourished in the MUROMACHI period(1333-1573) and continued until the EDO period(1603-1868). Due to the high demand for weapons, MINO-DEN exceedingly prospered during Sengoku Jidai(Warring State period). Moreover, the location of Mino province beat others. Akechi Mitsuhide controlled Mino province, Nobunaga Oda ruled Owari province, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was the lord of Suruga (Neighboring areas). There was high demand from those powerful feudal lords and their retainers. Furthermore, many wars occurred between the Kanto region and the Kyoto area. Many feudal lords demanded swords forged in the Mino province. Mino is located in the middle, making feudal lords feel convenient to order swords from MINO-DEN. The blades forged in MINO provinces also had the reputation of their practical design and sharpness. The tradition of excellent sword forging skills had been passed to the Edo period, and Fujiwara Jyumyo in Owari province is a good example. 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) : 67.0 cm(26.4 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 2.12 cm( 0.83 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 t

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Fujiwara Jyumyo with Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Summary This blade was signed by Bishu Jyu Fujiwara Jyumyo (尾州藤原寿命). According to NBTHK, this blade was made during the early-mid Edo period. While its authentication paper does not mention the approximate age, we called NBTHK to confirm this information. Bishu is also known as Owari province (尾張), located in today’s Aichi prefecture. Fujiwara Jyumyo resided in Bishu when he forged this blade. The swordsmith name Jyumyo (Toshinaga) lasted five generations from the early-late Edo period in Owari province. This blade is the work of the later-gen Jyumyo during the early-Mid Edo period. Owari Jyumyo school was founded by the first-gen Jyumyo, whose birth name was Kondo Sukezaemon (近藤助左衛門). The first-gen Jyumyo was born in the fifth year of the Tensho era (1575) in Mino province and moved to Owari province during the Keicho era (1596-1615). He signed as Ganmaku Jyumyo (岩捲寿命). He received the honorable title Tango no Kami (丹後守) in the second year of Kanei (1625). And, he started to serve Owari Tokugawa clan near Nagoya castle. The generations of Jyumyo forged blades for this clan by the end of the Edo period. We assume there was much demand among high-class Samurai to order swords forged by Jyumyo because Owari province(today’s Aichi prefecture) was active in martial arts during the early-mid Edo period. Furthermore, The name “JYUMYO” means life span or longevity. As it has great meaning, their swords were appreciated as gifts to feudal lords or high-class Samurai among the SAMURAI society. The Origin of Jyumyo School The JYUMYO school has its origins from YAMATO(NARA Pref.) and moved to Mino province in the KAMAKURA period. The tradition continued for centuries, right up until the end of the EDO period. The MINO swordsmiths style, also known as MINO-DEN, basically has the TOGARI(Pointed shapes protruding from the Hamon )in a classic straight line and random temper line with some white Utsuri. MINO-DEN had its origin from YAMATO-DEN in the late KAMAKURA period(1280-1330). It flourished in the MUROMACHI period(1333-1573) and continued until the EDO period(1603-1868). Due to the high demand for weapons, MINO-DEN exceedingly prospered during Sengoku Jidai(Warring State period). Moreover, the location of Mino province beat others. Akechi Mitsuhide controlled Mino province, Nobunaga Oda ruled Owari province, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was the lord of Suruga (Neighboring areas). There was high demand from those powerful feudal lords and their retainers. Furthermore, many wars occurred between the Kanto region and the Kyoto area. Many feudal lords demanded swords forged in the Mino province. Mino is located in the middle, making feudal lords feel convenient to order swords from MINO-DEN. The blades forged in MINO provinces also had the reputation of their practical design and sharpness. The tradition of excellent sword forging skills had been passed to the Edo period, and Fujiwara Jyumyo in Owari province is a good example. 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) : 67.0 cm(26.4 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 2.12 cm( 0.83 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 t