This wakizashi is signed by Fujiwara Nobuyoshi, a prominent Shinto smith from Yamashiro province, known as one of the Kyoto Go-Kaji (Five Smiths of Kyoto). It features a well-forged itame hada with masame in the shinogi-ji and a straight hamon with some variations. The blade comes with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate and is housed in a shirasaya.
Certificate reading — 銘 山城国住藤原信吉
NihontoWatchmei · Edo · nagasa 54.1cm · sori 1.6cm
Yamashiro · around 1644-1648
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 49%
5 pieces on the market now
The Edo period (1615 to 1868)
For two and a half centuries of peace the sword was the warrior’s legal badge rather than his weapon. Each great city developed its own manner, Edo’s tested strength against Ōsaka’s polished brilliance, until demand thinned in the era’s last decades.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
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 must be shipped within 3 days of delivery. Excludes modified/damaged items or past the deadline. Return shipping paid by customer. Overseas orders cannot be returned/refunded.
¥500,000
