This is an O-suriage mumei katana attributed to Ryokai, a master smith of the Rai school from Yamashiro province during the late Kamakura period (around Einin era, 1293-1299). It features elegant horimono carvings of Bo-hi, Hatahoko, 2 Suji-hi, and Suken, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The blade exhibits a beautiful and strong jigane reminiscent of Rai Kunimitsu, with a bright, varied hamon of suguha with ko-ashi.
NihontoWatchsuriage-mumei · Rai · Kamakura · nagasa 69.08cm · sori 2.27cm
Yamashiro-den · Yamashiro
14 pieces on the market now
The Ryokai school (了戒) took shape in the late-Kamakura capital of Kyoto, in Yamashiro Province, around the smith Ryokai, who worked through the era names Shoo, Einin, Kagen, Enkyo and Ocho at the turn of the fourteenth century. The old account makes him a son or a pupil of Rai Kunitoshi, and one version has him adopted into Kunitoshi's house; because his dated blades place him almost level with Kunitoshi, however, the NBTHK reads him more naturally as a contemporary (an aitedeshi, a fellow disciple) who formed his own line within the wider Rai circle. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Ryokai了戒 | 1288-1305 | 97 |
| Hisanobu久信 | 1304-1308 | 5 |
| Nobumasa信正 | 1345-1350 | 0 |
| Nobumasa信正 | 1390-1394 | 0 |
| Nobuyoshi宣能 | 1444-1449 | 0 |
A blade of top-grade workmanship and condition, formally judged to rank with a nationally recognized Important Art Object (Jūyō Bijutsuhin). Awarded only at the NBTHK’s competitive annual examination.
Of Japan’s roughly 2.5 million registered swords, only 12,307 (about 1 in 203) have ever attained Jūyō.
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 siteIf, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.
This is an O-suriage mumei katana attributed to Ryokai, a master smith of the Rai school from Yamashiro province during the late Kamakura period (around Einin era, 1293-1299). It features elegant horimono carvings of Bo-hi, Hatahoko, 2 Suji-hi, and Suken, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The blade exhibits a beautiful and strong jigane reminiscent of Rai Kunimitsu, with a bright, varied hamon of suguha with ko-ashi.
NihontoWatchsuriage-mumei · Rai · Kamakura · nagasa 69.08cm · sori 2.27cm
Yamashiro-den · Yamashiro
14 pieces on the market now
The Ryokai school (了戒) took shape in the late-Kamakura capital of Kyoto, in Yamashiro Province, around the smith Ryokai, who worked through the era names Shoo, Einin, Kagen, Enkyo and Ocho at the turn of the fourteenth century. The old account makes him a son or a pupil of Rai Kunitoshi, and one version has him adopted into Kunitoshi's house; because his dated blades place him almost level with Kunitoshi, however, the NBTHK reads him more naturally as a contemporary (an aitedeshi, a fellow disciple) who formed his own line within the wider Rai circle. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Ryokai了戒 | 1288-1305 | 97 |
| Hisanobu久信 | 1304-1308 | 5 |
| Nobumasa信正 | 1345-1350 | 0 |
| Nobumasa信正 | 1390-1394 | 0 |
| Nobuyoshi宣能 | 1444-1449 | 0 |
A blade of top-grade workmanship and condition, formally judged to rank with a nationally recognized Important Art Object (Jūyō Bijutsuhin). Awarded only at the NBTHK’s competitive annual examination.
Of Japan’s roughly 2.5 million registered swords, only 12,307 (about 1 in 203) have ever attained Jūyō.
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 siteIf, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.
