Edo was the sword’s age of connoisseurship: the Hon’ami appraisers, the shogunal register of famous blades of 1719, and a thriving literature turned the sword into an object of study even as it ceased to be drawn in war.
This katana was forged by Fujiwara Nobuyoshi (1st Gen) of the prestigious Mishina school in Yamashiro Province during the early Edo period (Meireki era, 1655-1658). It comes with a full koshirae featuring Aoi (hollyhock) and dragon motifs, a shirasaya, and an NBTHK Hozon certificate. The blade shows some minor flaws including Kitae Kizu, black rust, and a small chip.
Certificate reading — 銘 山城国住藤原信吉
NihontoWatchmei · Mishina · Shoho (1644-1648) · nagasa 68.9cm · sori 2.2cm
Yamashiro · around 1644-1648
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 49%
5 pieces on the market now
The Edo period (1615 to 1868)
Edo was the sword’s age of connoisseurship: the Hon’ami appraisers, the shogunal register of famous blades of 1719, and a thriving literature turned the sword into an object of study even as it ceased to be drawn in war.
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.
¥750,000
