Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Kanesada with NBTHK Tokubestsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Kanesada (兼貞), who was thought to be active during the early – mid Edo period in Mino province (Today’s Gifu prefecture). There were several swordsmiths with the same name, who were also active during the Muromachi period. We assume this swordsmith Kanesada (兼貞) was the late generation of those Kanesada. Also, it is said that the early gen Kanesada (兼貞) learned the sword-forging skills from Izumino Kami Kanesada (和泉守兼定), who is one of the most famous swordsmiths in Samurai history. Generally, the swordsmiths from Mino province used 兼 (KANE) in the first part of his name as his signature. For example, it would be Kane-aki, Kane-tane and so on. The most famous Kanesada was Izuminokami kanesada (和泉守兼定), as mentioned above, from Mino province, which was famous for the sword-forging tradition called MINO-DEN (美濃伝). About MINO DEN MINO-DEN exceedingly prospered during Sengoku Jidai (Warring State period) due to the high demand for weapons. And the location of Mino province beat others. Akechi Mitsuhide controlled Mino province, and Nobunaga Oda ruled Owari province. Tokugawa Ieyasu was the lord of Suruga (Neighboring areas). There was high demand from those powerful feudal lords and their retainers. Furthermore, so many wars occurred between the Kanto region and the Kyoto area. 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. Many feudal lords demanded swords forged in the Mino province. This highly skilled sword-forging technique has been passed down for generations. The smith’s name “Kanesada” was one of the most famous ones even after the warring state ended. Homare Kizu (誉疵) We see what appears to be a Homare Kizu (誉疵), which tells us that this blade was used in a battle. Homare means honorable, and Homare Kizu is considered a good blade characteristic that tells us its history. 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. *Please keep in mind that there are a couple of tiny black rust on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 49.5 cm (19.4 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.3 cm (0.51 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 Kissaki :Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword. 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. We assume the bottle of Nihonshu (日本酒: Japanese alcoholic drink) called Tokkuri (徳利: a sake bottle) is depicted on this Kashira, and some kind of fish similar to the eel (鰻: Unagi), is depicted on this Fuchi. On the Tokkuri (徳利), there seems to be a motif of one of the Seven Lucky Gods (七福神: Shichifukujin), which are believed to grant good luck . In the Edo period, the motif of the Seven Lucky Gods was often depicted on the Tokkuri (徳利), which is also called Ningyo Tokkuri (人形徳利). Nihonshu has been considered an important symbo

Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Kanesada with NBTHK Tokubestsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Kanesada (兼貞), who was thought to be active during the early – mid Edo period in Mino province (Today’s Gifu prefecture). There were several swordsmiths with the same name, who were also active during the Muromachi period. We assume this swordsmith Kanesada (兼貞) was the late generation of those Kanesada. Also, it is said that the early gen Kanesada (兼貞) learned the sword-forging skills from Izumino Kami Kanesada (和泉守兼定), who is one of the most famous swordsmiths in Samurai history. Generally, the swordsmiths from Mino province used 兼 (KANE) in the first part of his name as his signature. For example, it would be Kane-aki, Kane-tane and so on. The most famous Kanesada was Izuminokami kanesada (和泉守兼定), as mentioned above, from Mino province, which was famous for the sword-forging tradition called MINO-DEN (美濃伝). About MINO DEN MINO-DEN exceedingly prospered during Sengoku Jidai (Warring State period) due to the high demand for weapons. And the location of Mino province beat others. Akechi Mitsuhide controlled Mino province, and Nobunaga Oda ruled Owari province. Tokugawa Ieyasu was the lord of Suruga (Neighboring areas). There was high demand from those powerful feudal lords and their retainers. Furthermore, so many wars occurred between the Kanto region and the Kyoto area. 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. Many feudal lords demanded swords forged in the Mino province. This highly skilled sword-forging technique has been passed down for generations. The smith’s name “Kanesada” was one of the most famous ones even after the warring state ended. Homare Kizu (誉疵) We see what appears to be a Homare Kizu (誉疵), which tells us that this blade was used in a battle. Homare means honorable, and Homare Kizu is considered a good blade characteristic that tells us its history. 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. *Please keep in mind that there are a couple of tiny black rust on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 49.5 cm (19.4 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.3 cm (0.51 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 Kissaki :Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword. 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. We assume the bottle of Nihonshu (日本酒: Japanese alcoholic drink) called Tokkuri (徳利: a sake bottle) is depicted on this Kashira, and some kind of fish similar to the eel (鰻: Unagi), is depicted on this Fuchi. On the Tokkuri (徳利), there seems to be a motif of one of the Seven Lucky Gods (七福神: Shichifukujin), which are believed to grant good luck . In the Edo period, the motif of the Seven Lucky Gods was often depicted on the Tokkuri (徳利), which is also called Ningyo Tokkuri (人形徳利). Nihonshu has been considered an important symbo