This is a katana attributed to the Dodanuki school, which rapidly grew in the late Sengoku period. Known for their robust construction, Dodanuki blades were capable of cutting through iron helmets and possessed excellent cutting ability for flesh and bone. This particular example is o-suriage mumei, meaning it was greatly shortened and is unsigned.


Bizen-den · Higo · around 1573-1611
Tōken Taikan top 60%
4 pieces on the market now
Where Dotanuki stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Years he was demonstrably active, proven by signed-and-dated blades
Bizen-den · Higo
13 pieces on the market now
The Dōtanuki (同田貫) line took shape in Kikuchi District of Higo Province toward the close of the Muromachi period and carried its activity forward into the shintō era, spanning the Momoyama transition into early Edo. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kozukenosuke上野介 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
| Muneharu宗春 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Kunikatsu國勝 | 1558-1570 | 0 |
| Kagemasa景和 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
| Masakuni正國 | 1789-1801 | 0 |
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 is a katana attributed to the Dodanuki school, which rapidly grew in the late Sengoku period. Known for their robust construction, Dodanuki blades were capable of cutting through iron helmets and possessed excellent cutting ability for flesh and bone. This particular example is o-suriage mumei, meaning it was greatly shortened and is unsigned.


Bizen-den · Higo · around 1573-1611
Tōken Taikan top 60%
4 pieces on the market now
Where Dotanuki stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Years he was demonstrably active, proven by signed-and-dated blades
Bizen-den · Higo
13 pieces on the market now
The Dōtanuki (同田貫) line took shape in Kikuchi District of Higo Province toward the close of the Muromachi period and carried its activity forward into the shintō era, spanning the Momoyama transition into early Edo. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kozukenosuke上野介 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
| Muneharu宗春 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Kunikatsu國勝 | 1558-1570 | 0 |
| Kagemasa景和 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
| Masakuni正國 | 1789-1801 | 0 |
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.