Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Yasukuni with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Yasukuni belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today’s Hachioji city(southwest part of Tokyo). This school thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period. (late 16C-Late 19C) His real name is Yamamoto Touta, while his smith name changed over time, starting from Hiroshige and then Musashi Taro Yasukuni. He was born in Bushu Hachioji as the son of Touta Hiroshige and moved to Edo city, becoming an apprentice of master Omura Kaboku, a famous swordsmith. Kanboku was primarily working as a surgeon for Mito Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the Mito domain’s feudal lord (Ibaraki prefecture today). Mitsukuni was a grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Edo government. Yasukuni is famous for having forged a sword for the general Mitsukuni because he received an order from the domain in 1685. Futhermore, in 1721, the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune ordered Yasukuni to participate in the sword-forging exhibition in Hamarikyu, the feudal lord’s residence in Edo. Shogun Yoshimune invited renowned swordsmiths there to compete for their craftsmanship. These facts indicate Yasukuni was acknowledged as a top-tier swordsmith in the mid-Edo period. We believe this Wakizashi was ordered by a high class Samurai official based on its elegant look. Shitahara school where Yasukuni belonged, is the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith’s real sir name was Yamamoto. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara swordsmiths started to serve the Tokugawa clan. They were known as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period. This blade has a 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). This sword has beautiful Midare Hamon and comes with a beautiful scabbard and intricate sword fitting. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 51.5 cm ( 20.27 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.5 cm( 0.59 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process Jimon : visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process Nakago : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. On this blade, his name, Musashi Taro Yasuhiro is engraved on the front and the other side says Ma Jyugo Mai Kobuse Saku(真十五枚甲伏作). Ma Jyugo Koubuse was a particular sword forging method/technique his master and he utilized. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang on purpose to prevent red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, which 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. Waves, the stump, and plants are designed. As waves’ movements continue endlessly, the wave pattern represents eternity, immortality, longevity, and birth, etcetera. Also, since tides change the shape and terrain of rocks repeatedly, some people hoped for a strong will for this motif. People used this pattern wishing for an indomitable spirit to rechallenge time and time without giving up. This motif has been appreciated especially for men’s Kimono (traditional Japanese costume) thanks to its dynamic design. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. Kaeru (蛙, fr

Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Yasukuni with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Yasukuni belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today’s Hachioji city(southwest part of Tokyo). This school thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period. (late 16C-Late 19C) His real name is Yamamoto Touta, while his smith name changed over time, starting from Hiroshige and then Musashi Taro Yasukuni. He was born in Bushu Hachioji as the son of Touta Hiroshige and moved to Edo city, becoming an apprentice of master Omura Kaboku, a famous swordsmith. Kanboku was primarily working as a surgeon for Mito Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the Mito domain’s feudal lord (Ibaraki prefecture today). Mitsukuni was a grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Edo government. Yasukuni is famous for having forged a sword for the general Mitsukuni because he received an order from the domain in 1685. Futhermore, in 1721, the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune ordered Yasukuni to participate in the sword-forging exhibition in Hamarikyu, the feudal lord’s residence in Edo. Shogun Yoshimune invited renowned swordsmiths there to compete for their craftsmanship. These facts indicate Yasukuni was acknowledged as a top-tier swordsmith in the mid-Edo period. We believe this Wakizashi was ordered by a high class Samurai official based on its elegant look. Shitahara school where Yasukuni belonged, is the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith’s real sir name was Yamamoto. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara swordsmiths started to serve the Tokugawa clan. They were known as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period. This blade has a 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). This sword has beautiful Midare Hamon and comes with a beautiful scabbard and intricate sword fitting. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 51.5 cm ( 20.27 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.5 cm( 0.59 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process Jimon : visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process Nakago : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. On this blade, his name, Musashi Taro Yasuhiro is engraved on the front and the other side says Ma Jyugo Mai Kobuse Saku(真十五枚甲伏作). Ma Jyugo Koubuse was a particular sword forging method/technique his master and he utilized. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang on purpose to prevent red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, which 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. Waves, the stump, and plants are designed. As waves’ movements continue endlessly, the wave pattern represents eternity, immortality, longevity, and birth, etcetera. Also, since tides change the shape and terrain of rocks repeatedly, some people hoped for a strong will for this motif. People used this pattern wishing for an indomitable spirit to rechallenge time and time without giving up. This motif has been appreciated especially for men’s Kimono (traditional Japanese costume) thanks to its dynamic design. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. Kaeru (蛙, fr