NihontoWatchAntique Japanese Sword Katana signed by Sukenori with Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade bears the signature Un’yō-jū Ōtsuka Sukenori (雲陽住大塚助則) and is dated Meiji 2 (1869), as recorded in its NBTHK appraisal certificate. Sukenori was born in Kai Province (甲斐国, present-day Yamanashi Prefecture) in Bunsei 10 (1827). His birth name was Tamura Yoshiji (田村義事). His surviving works indicate that he was making swords during the Ansei era (1854–1860), and he continued forging into the late Meiji period, with examples dating to approximately 1896. He is recorded as having lived in both Kai Province and Sagami Province (相模国, present-day Kanagawa Prefecture). He also served as a Shinto priest while pursuing his work as a swordsmith. This blade was made when Sukenori was approximately 42 years old, after years of experience at the forge. He died in Meiji 42 (1909), aged approximately 82. Historical Background Forged in 1869, this sword dates to the second year of the Meiji era, when Japan was still undergoing the transition from Tokugawa rule to the new imperial government. The Boshin War (1868–1869), fought between supporters of the former shogunate and the imperial forces, ended that year with the defeat of the remaining Tokugawa loyalists at Hakodate. The changes affecting the samurai and their swords unfolded over the following years. The domains were abolished in 1871, and the 1876 Haitōrei prohibited most civilians, including former samurai, from wearing swords in public. This blade therefore predates both reforms and was forged at a time when samurai still wore swords, even as firearms increasingly dominated military warfare. As demand for swords declined, many swordsmiths turned to other occupations. Sukenori continued producing blades into the 1890s. This dated example documents his work at the beginning of that transition, connecting his training under the Tokugawa shogunate with his continued swordmaking in Meiji Japan. It is appraised as a Hozon Token (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, well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu and Hike Kizu (scratch) on the blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 76.8 cm ( 30.2 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.2 cm (0.47 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. *Please keep in mind that there are some rust on this Fuchi Kashira. This Fuchi-Kashira is decorated with cherry blossoms (桜, sakura), creating an elegant floral design. For the Japanese people, cherry blossoms hold profound cultural significance. They symbolize the fleeting nature of life, the beauty of impermanence, and the arrival of spring. Because the blossoms bloom brilliantly yet fall after only a short time, they have long served as a reminder of life’s transience. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. These menuki feature a crescent moon, known in Japanese as mikazuki (三日月). The moon has long been a bel
NihontoWatchOffered by Samurai Museum
The Shinshintō revival
Around 1800 Suishinshi Masahide argued in his writings that the craft must return to the old masters’ methods: the fukkotō revival. His greatest successor Naotane worked convincingly in Bizen and Sōshū manners that had been dead for centuries.
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns/exchanges limited to defects caused by shipping (except willful misconduct or gross negligence by the company); customers must contact within 72 hours of receiving the product.
¥1,250,000