Sengoku Seki was an industry: smiths organized under their tutelary Kasuga shrine, arming the war bands of central Japan. Magoroku Kanemoto’s sanbonsugi and the finest Kanesada work prove quality survived inside mass production.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchS115. O-suriage, hira zukuri tanto in shirasaya with sayagaki to Kaneyoshi and a paper to Chikuzen Ryokai School. Nagasa: 11 5/16″ 28.8 cm. Sori: 3 mm. Moto Haba: 15/16″ 2.3 cm. Moto kasane: 3 mm. Overall length: 16 1/8″ 41 cm. The mune is iore, the yasurime are sujikai, there are gomabashi hi (on the nakago) and a Bonji on the omote and bo hi ni soe hi (on the nakago) on the ura. Hoso suguba in ko-nie with a ko-maru boshi and medium length kaeri, itame hada with a bit of ko mokume, There is a wide band of bo-utsuri. I don’t know who did the sayagaki but it refers to Zenjo Kaneyoshi. The paper to Chikuzen Ryokai School, mid Muromachi, was issued in 1997 by the NTHK. The habaki is gold foil and quite nice. If it weren’t for a scuff on the omote under the boshi the blade would be in polish. There are no defects to warn you of and the blade isn’t tired. Given the condition, age, and the fact that neither attribution is anything to be ashamed of, I think this is a fine tanto at a very attractive price. 12 ounces.
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Mino-den · Mino · around 1390-1394
Tōken Taikan top 37%
Where Kaneyoshi 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.
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Mino-den · Mino
3 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kaneshige兼重 | 1504-1521 | 0 |
| Kaneyoshi兼吉 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Kanekado兼門 | 1428-1429 | 0 |
| Yoshikado吉門 | 1624-1644 | 0 |
| Chikanori近則 | 1818-1864 | 0 |
Mino in the Muromachi period
Sengoku Seki was an industry: smiths organized under their tutelary Kasuga shrine, arming the war bands of central Japan. Magoroku Kanemoto’s sanbonsugi and the finest Kanesada work prove quality survived inside mass production.
3-day return window from receipt.