Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Kaneshige with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Kananeshige was the adopted son of the first-gen Mutsu no kami Kaneyasu, one of the most renowned swordsmiths in the early Edo period. Kanshige was originally from Tango province(northern part of Kyoto). He studied sword-forging technique as an apprentice under the first-gen Mutsu no Kami Kaneyasu(陸奥守包保). His master eventually adopted him, and he became the son of his master. Before taking over his adopted father’s business, he signed as Kaneshige(包重) backward like his left-handed master. As the signature was written backward in this blade, we believe this blade was forged when he was still an apprentice of the first-gen Kaneyasu. However, he changed his signature to Kaneyasu(包保) and signed in a usual way after taking over his master’s smith name. For those reasons, he is called 右陸奥(Right Mutsu), while his master is called Left Mutsu. He mostly forged swords in Edo and Osaka city. Later in his career, he exclusively served the Mizuno clan in Matsumoto castle in Nagano prefecture with his adopted father. He forged swords during 1661-1689(The early Edo Period: late 17th century) based on the remaining works. The blade is appraised as Tokubetsu Hozon certificate issued by NBTHK. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, especially worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword). It has beautiful Suguha Hamon(straight tempering line) and intricate Jihada. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 70.1 cm( 27.6 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.5 cm(0.6 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(Sabbard), Tsuka( Handle), Tsuba(Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt. Several plants are designed for this Fuchi Kashira. Some parts of them are colored with gold, so that these motifs might have been originally inlaid with gold. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. A kind of plant is the motif of this Menuki as well as Fuchi Kashira. Also, there might be a bird that rests on the plant. This plant might be a pine tree. As pine trees keep their green color throughout the years by withstanding severe heat and cold, this plant pattern represents eternal youth. Furthermore, its color is called Tokiwa-Iro (常盤色, evergreen trees’ dark green color with brown). It is said this color was appreciated, especially in the Edo period, as a good-luck color. The pine tree design gives us an elegant and noble impression. 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. Circle-shaped Tsuba made from iron. The flower pattern is engraved for this Tsuba; this plant might be Suisen (水仙, narcissus). According to a theory, this flower’s shape was likened to the figure of Sennin (仙人, mountain hermit) who stands still on the Mizube (水辺, waterside); therefore, narcissus was named “水仙.” It is unknown when narcissus was brought to Japan, but it became popular in the Edo period. The then famous painters liked to depict this flower in their works. Also, the narcissus pattern was designed for various items s

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Kaneshige with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Kananeshige was the adopted son of the first-gen Mutsu no kami Kaneyasu, one of the most renowned swordsmiths in the early Edo period. Kanshige was originally from Tango province(northern part of Kyoto). He studied sword-forging technique as an apprentice under the first-gen Mutsu no Kami Kaneyasu(陸奥守包保). His master eventually adopted him, and he became the son of his master. Before taking over his adopted father’s business, he signed as Kaneshige(包重) backward like his left-handed master. As the signature was written backward in this blade, we believe this blade was forged when he was still an apprentice of the first-gen Kaneyasu. However, he changed his signature to Kaneyasu(包保) and signed in a usual way after taking over his master’s smith name. For those reasons, he is called 右陸奥(Right Mutsu), while his master is called Left Mutsu. He mostly forged swords in Edo and Osaka city. Later in his career, he exclusively served the Mizuno clan in Matsumoto castle in Nagano prefecture with his adopted father. He forged swords during 1661-1689(The early Edo Period: late 17th century) based on the remaining works. The blade is appraised as Tokubetsu Hozon certificate issued by NBTHK. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, especially worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword). It has beautiful Suguha Hamon(straight tempering line) and intricate Jihada. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 70.1 cm( 27.6 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.5 cm(0.6 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(Sabbard), Tsuka( Handle), Tsuba(Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt. Several plants are designed for this Fuchi Kashira. Some parts of them are colored with gold, so that these motifs might have been originally inlaid with gold. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. A kind of plant is the motif of this Menuki as well as Fuchi Kashira. Also, there might be a bird that rests on the plant. This plant might be a pine tree. As pine trees keep their green color throughout the years by withstanding severe heat and cold, this plant pattern represents eternal youth. Furthermore, its color is called Tokiwa-Iro (常盤色, evergreen trees’ dark green color with brown). It is said this color was appreciated, especially in the Edo period, as a good-luck color. The pine tree design gives us an elegant and noble impression. 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. Circle-shaped Tsuba made from iron. The flower pattern is engraved for this Tsuba; this plant might be Suisen (水仙, narcissus). According to a theory, this flower’s shape was likened to the figure of Sennin (仙人, mountain hermit) who stands still on the Mizube (水辺, waterside); therefore, narcissus was named “水仙.” It is unknown when narcissus was brought to Japan, but it became popular in the Edo period. The then famous painters liked to depict this flower in their works. Also, the narcissus pattern was designed for various items s