The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
Signature (Mei): 榎本伊豆住竜義作 Enomoto, Izu-jū Tatsuyoshi saku — "Made by Tatsuyoshi Enomoto, residing in Izu" Date (Nenki): 平成十五年十二月吉日 — Heisei 15, December, auspicious day (December 2003) Swordsmith: Enomoto Tatsuyoshi (榎本竜義) — highly regarded and sought-after gendaitō smith; specialist in ō-hada steel Classification: Gendaitō (modern sword) — highest rank Mounting: Higo Kuyō-mon koshirae — gold hirazogan karakusa iron tsuba with sukashi; matching gold inlay fuchi; Higo Kuyō-mon ( 九曜紋 ) menuki; copper habaki; black lacquer saya with cream-gold sageo Blade Length (Nagasa): 71.8 cm Curvature (Sori): 1.6 cm Mekugi-ana: 2 Shape: Shinogi-zukuri, ō-kissaki — broad, imposing proportions Motohaba: 32.2 mm / Sakihaba: 23.9 mm Motokasane: 6.9 mm / Sakikasane: 4.3 mm Blade Weight: 605 g / Total koshirae length: 104.5 cm Jihada: Intentional ō-hada (large wood-grain) — a distinctive artistic speciality of the smith Hamon: Bold gunome-midare / ō-midare with vigorous activity Habaki: Copper, single piece This exceptional Gendaitō Katana is a signed and dated work by Enomoto Tatsuyoshi ( 榎本竜義 ), one of the most highly regarded and sought-after modern swordsmiths of his generation — a craftsman whose mastery of ō-hada steel forging has earned him a devoted following among the most discerning collectors of contemporary Japanese swords. Dated December 2003 (Heisei 15) , this is a blade from the mature peak of the smith's career, presented in a Higo Kuyō-mon koshirae of exceptional prestige — an ensemble whose aristocratic iconography matches the ambition and quality of the blade it dresses. At 71.8 cm with a confident 1.6 cm sori , the blade's proportions are immediately commanding. The motohaba of 32.2 mm — broad even by the standards of generous modern work — tapers with authority to a sakihaba of 23.9 mm, the geometry carrying through a proud shinogi-zukuri profile to a sweeping ō-kissaki of generous fukura. This is a blade that asserts itself visually before a single other quality is
Offered by Tokyo Nihonto
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Shinshinto · Shizuoka · around 1926-1989
3 pieces on the market now
Shinshinto · Settsu
28 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sadaharu貞晴 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1926-1989 | 0 |
| Yoshiaki吉明 | 1844-1848 | 0 |
| Naonobu直信 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1830-1863 | 0 |
Shōwa to the present: destruction and revival
The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
Returns/exchanges only for manufactured defects or incorrect products; notify within 72 hours of delivery. Cancellation only within 2 hours of placing. Customer pays return shipping. Refund within 3 business days of package arrival.