Antique Japanese Sword Daisho Signed by Tsuguhira/Unsigned Masahiro with NBTHK Certificate 【Description】 Katana signed by Tsuguhira The first-gen Omi no Kami Fujiwara Tsuguhira(近江守藤原継平) is an apprentice of the second-gen Yasutsugu(康継). The first-gen, Yasutusu, was one of the most famous swordsmiths in Echizen province during the early Edo Period(early 17th century). The master Yasutsu’s metalwork technique was so great that Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa allowed him to engrave Mitsuba Aoi(a family crest of the Tokugawa) on his forged blades. The first-gen Tsuguhira lived in Echizen Province(today’s Fukui prefecture) first and then moved to Edo city with his master. The sword maker’s name Tsuguhira lasted 6th generations, and we believe this blade was forged by the second-gen Tsuguhira based on how he signed the blade. The second-gen Tsuguhira learned great sword forging techniques from his father. He forged swords during the mid Edo period,(Early 18th century) It is a rare item because there aren’t many remaining work created by the second-gen Tsuguhira today. The second-gen Tsuguhira us famous for having written a book called “Tsuguhira Oshigata,” where he hand-traced swords stored and inherited among Tokugawa shogun family for generations. He was allowed by the eighth Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune to publish this book. This fact indicates that the second-gen Tsuguhira was a reputable swordsmith trusted by Tokugawa Shogunate family. Echizen Province, this swordsmith’s origin, was famous for forging razor-sharp, practically-designed swords. The Edo government, run by Tokugawa clan, ordered many blades from the swordsmiths in this province during the Edo period(1603-1868). Some swordsmiths moved from Echizen to Edo city because of Shogun’s request. Wakizashi Unsigned Masahiro This Wakizashi is attributed to Hizen Masahiro while there is no remaining signature on the tang. Masahiro is a renowned swordsmith from Hizen province. (today’s Saga prefecture). The smith name “Masahiro” lasted six generations and NBHTK doesn’t specify which Masahiro forged this blade. The first-gen, Masahiro, was the grandson of Tadayoshi, the founder of Tadayoshi school in Hizen province. At the beginning of his career, Masahiro signed as Masanaga and then changed it to Masahiro in 1625 A.D(the second year of Kanei). He was especially highly regarded among the Nabeshima clan, a powerful feudal family in Hizen province. Nabeshima Katsushige is the one who ordered Masahiro to change his maker’s name. Masahiro was selected as Okakae Kaji for Nabeshima clan, meaning he was exclusively forging swords for the feudal family. It was quite honorable for any swordsmiths to be an Okakae Kaji. It is said that Masahiro’s forging technique was so great that he sometimes forged swords on behalf of Tadayoshi. The swords forged in Hizen province are known as Hizen To, famous for their beautiful Jigane (The steel of a constructed blade). You can see a beautiful example of Hizen To from this wakizashi. What is Daisho? Daisho is a pair of two Japanese swords Samurai carried. During the Edo period, having Daisho in public places was considered social status for Samurai. Furthermore, Samurai were required to wear them under the law back then. Daisho is written as 大=Big and 小=Small. Dai part means Katana, and Sho part means Wakizashi. While different swordsmiths forged these two swords, they come with a pair of Daisho Koshirae(sword mountings). Koshirae also got appraised by NBTHK. That means Samurai back then carried these pair of Daisho. They have such a fancy appearance that we believe a high-ranked Samurai owned them. And based on the style of the sword mounitngs, they are categorized as DENCHU KOSHIRAE(Sword mountings for entering a castle), which is very formal style of the mountings. 【 Blade】 -Katana Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 65.6 cm(25.82 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.3 cm( 0.51 inches) -Wakizashi Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 45.4 cm( 17.9 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 0.8 cm(0.

Antique Japanese Sword Daisho Signed by Tsuguhira/Unsigned Masahiro with NBTHK Certificate 【Description】 Katana signed by Tsuguhira The first-gen Omi no Kami Fujiwara Tsuguhira(近江守藤原継平) is an apprentice of the second-gen Yasutsugu(康継). The first-gen, Yasutusu, was one of the most famous swordsmiths in Echizen province during the early Edo Period(early 17th century). The master Yasutsu’s metalwork technique was so great that Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa allowed him to engrave Mitsuba Aoi(a family crest of the Tokugawa) on his forged blades. The first-gen Tsuguhira lived in Echizen Province(today’s Fukui prefecture) first and then moved to Edo city with his master. The sword maker’s name Tsuguhira lasted 6th generations, and we believe this blade was forged by the second-gen Tsuguhira based on how he signed the blade. The second-gen Tsuguhira learned great sword forging techniques from his father. He forged swords during the mid Edo period,(Early 18th century) It is a rare item because there aren’t many remaining work created by the second-gen Tsuguhira today. The second-gen Tsuguhira us famous for having written a book called “Tsuguhira Oshigata,” where he hand-traced swords stored and inherited among Tokugawa shogun family for generations. He was allowed by the eighth Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune to publish this book. This fact indicates that the second-gen Tsuguhira was a reputable swordsmith trusted by Tokugawa Shogunate family. Echizen Province, this swordsmith’s origin, was famous for forging razor-sharp, practically-designed swords. The Edo government, run by Tokugawa clan, ordered many blades from the swordsmiths in this province during the Edo period(1603-1868). Some swordsmiths moved from Echizen to Edo city because of Shogun’s request. Wakizashi Unsigned Masahiro This Wakizashi is attributed to Hizen Masahiro while there is no remaining signature on the tang. Masahiro is a renowned swordsmith from Hizen province. (today’s Saga prefecture). The smith name “Masahiro” lasted six generations and NBHTK doesn’t specify which Masahiro forged this blade. The first-gen, Masahiro, was the grandson of Tadayoshi, the founder of Tadayoshi school in Hizen province. At the beginning of his career, Masahiro signed as Masanaga and then changed it to Masahiro in 1625 A.D(the second year of Kanei). He was especially highly regarded among the Nabeshima clan, a powerful feudal family in Hizen province. Nabeshima Katsushige is the one who ordered Masahiro to change his maker’s name. Masahiro was selected as Okakae Kaji for Nabeshima clan, meaning he was exclusively forging swords for the feudal family. It was quite honorable for any swordsmiths to be an Okakae Kaji. It is said that Masahiro’s forging technique was so great that he sometimes forged swords on behalf of Tadayoshi. The swords forged in Hizen province are known as Hizen To, famous for their beautiful Jigane (The steel of a constructed blade). You can see a beautiful example of Hizen To from this wakizashi. What is Daisho? Daisho is a pair of two Japanese swords Samurai carried. During the Edo period, having Daisho in public places was considered social status for Samurai. Furthermore, Samurai were required to wear them under the law back then. Daisho is written as 大=Big and 小=Small. Dai part means Katana, and Sho part means Wakizashi. While different swordsmiths forged these two swords, they come with a pair of Daisho Koshirae(sword mountings). Koshirae also got appraised by NBTHK. That means Samurai back then carried these pair of Daisho. They have such a fancy appearance that we believe a high-ranked Samurai owned them. And based on the style of the sword mounitngs, they are categorized as DENCHU KOSHIRAE(Sword mountings for entering a castle), which is very formal style of the mountings. 【 Blade】 -Katana Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 65.6 cm(25.82 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.3 cm( 0.51 inches) -Wakizashi Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 45.4 cm( 17.9 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 0.8 cm(0.