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 page from Ginza Choshuya, a specialist Japanese sword dealer, features a katana by Yokoyama Sukekane from the late Edo period, Bizen Province. Sukekane, a legitimate descendant of the Osafune smiths, is renowned as a master of Bizen-den choji-midare hamon, marking the culmination of Bizen smithing at the end of the Edo period. The blade's tight nioiguchi and clear hamon evoke a cold, clear stream, making one momentarily forget its nature as a weapon.
NihontoWatchmei · Osafune · Kaei (1848-1854)
Bizen-den · Bizen · around 1834-1872
Tōken Taikan top 60%
11 pieces on the market now
Bizen-den · Bizen
44 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sukenobu祐信 | 1830-1844 | 0 |
| Suketaka祐高 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sukeharu祐春 | 1864-1865 | 0 |
| Sukehiro祐廣 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sukekane祐包 | 1868-1912 | 0 |
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.
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
If, 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 page from Ginza Choshuya, a specialist Japanese sword dealer, features a katana by Yokoyama Sukekane from the late Edo period, Bizen Province. Sukekane, a legitimate descendant of the Osafune smiths, is renowned as a master of Bizen-den choji-midare hamon, marking the culmination of Bizen smithing at the end of the Edo period. The blade's tight nioiguchi and clear hamon evoke a cold, clear stream, making one momentarily forget its nature as a weapon.
NihontoWatchmei · Osafune · Kaei (1848-1854)
Bizen-den · Bizen · around 1834-1872
Tōken Taikan top 60%
11 pieces on the market now
Bizen-den · Bizen
44 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sukenobu祐信 | 1830-1844 | 0 |
| Suketaka祐高 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sukeharu祐春 | 1864-1865 | 0 |
| Sukehiro祐廣 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sukekane祐包 | 1868-1912 | 0 |
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.
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
If, 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.
