Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Masayasu with Kantei Club Kanteisho Certificate 【Description】 This blade is attributed to the work of Bungo no Kami Masatomo(豊後守正全) while there is no remaining signature on the tang. It was appraised by Kantei Club(Not NBHTK or NTHK). Masatomo was born in Seki city, Mino province(today’s Gifu prefecture). He was a descendant of Sakakura Seki Masatoshi, one of the most renowned swordsmiths in Mino province. Masatomo was an apprentice of Iga no Kami Kinmichi(伊賀守金道) before becoming an independent swordsmith in Owari province(today’s Aichi prefecture). He received an honorable title of Bungo Daijyo in the fourth year of the Kanbun era(1664). He then received Bungo no Kami, one rank higher title among Japanese swordsmiths. He was active in sword-forging during the early-mid Edo period(1661-1681), judging from available resources. It is said that Masatomo lived near Nagoya castle, and we assume he forged swords for those who resided in that area. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 68.2 cm(26.85 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.4 cm( 0.55 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. Dragons are designed for this Fuchi Kashira. At the Fuchi part, you see that clouds cover some parts of the dragon’s body. The combination of dragon pattern and cloud pattern is often found in sword mountings. According to a theory, dragons and gods dwell in clouds. Clouds bring rain and snow, and their movements significantly affect the weather of the day. People once probably have associated its supernatural power with the fantasy beast, dragon. In Japan, there is a belief that worships a dragon as a water god. Since rice cultivation flourished in this country, water is always an essential resource. The blessed rain is indispensable for agriculture. So, it is understandable that the dragon: water god and clouds design have been familiar to Japanese people since a long time ago. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. By seeing through the gaps of the Tsukamaki thread, the motif of this Menuki is also probably dragon. It seems the gold paint was initially applied to it. Originally, the dragon was an imaginary creature found in ancient traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, belly is the Mizuchi (蛟, mythical animal in Japan which looks like a snake and have a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers, and ears are cows. It was thought that the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance. 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. Same as the Fuchi Kashira and the Menuki, this Tsuba is also related to the dragon design. The dragon twists its elongated body and makes a circle shape. The golden flame is burning around the dragon. We can find the combination of dragon and fire in the Kurikara-Ken (倶利伽羅剣). It depicts the figur

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Masayasu with Kantei Club Kanteisho Certificate 【Description】 This blade is attributed to the work of Bungo no Kami Masatomo(豊後守正全) while there is no remaining signature on the tang. It was appraised by Kantei Club(Not NBHTK or NTHK). Masatomo was born in Seki city, Mino province(today’s Gifu prefecture). He was a descendant of Sakakura Seki Masatoshi, one of the most renowned swordsmiths in Mino province. Masatomo was an apprentice of Iga no Kami Kinmichi(伊賀守金道) before becoming an independent swordsmith in Owari province(today’s Aichi prefecture). He received an honorable title of Bungo Daijyo in the fourth year of the Kanbun era(1664). He then received Bungo no Kami, one rank higher title among Japanese swordsmiths. He was active in sword-forging during the early-mid Edo period(1661-1681), judging from available resources. It is said that Masatomo lived near Nagoya castle, and we assume he forged swords for those who resided in that area. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 68.2 cm(26.85 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.4 cm( 0.55 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. Dragons are designed for this Fuchi Kashira. At the Fuchi part, you see that clouds cover some parts of the dragon’s body. The combination of dragon pattern and cloud pattern is often found in sword mountings. According to a theory, dragons and gods dwell in clouds. Clouds bring rain and snow, and their movements significantly affect the weather of the day. People once probably have associated its supernatural power with the fantasy beast, dragon. In Japan, there is a belief that worships a dragon as a water god. Since rice cultivation flourished in this country, water is always an essential resource. The blessed rain is indispensable for agriculture. So, it is understandable that the dragon: water god and clouds design have been familiar to Japanese people since a long time ago. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. By seeing through the gaps of the Tsukamaki thread, the motif of this Menuki is also probably dragon. It seems the gold paint was initially applied to it. Originally, the dragon was an imaginary creature found in ancient traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, belly is the Mizuchi (蛟, mythical animal in Japan which looks like a snake and have a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers, and ears are cows. It was thought that the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance. 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. Same as the Fuchi Kashira and the Menuki, this Tsuba is also related to the dragon design. The dragon twists its elongated body and makes a circle shape. The golden flame is burning around the dragon. We can find the combination of dragon and fire in the Kurikara-Ken (倶利伽羅剣). It depicts the figur