This is a kozuka made by Hirata Narimasa, the ninth generation of the Hirata family, in the late Edo period. It features a design of three rabbits in tokusa grass, made with high relief carving and inlaid with gold on a shakudo nanako ground. It received a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate from the NBTHK in January 2020.
Certificate reading — 銘 平田就将（花押）
NihontoWatchmei · Edo
Hirata-Edo Narimasa
Edo
Musashi
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Kinko · Edo
1 piece on the market now
Where Narimasa 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.
Kinko · Musashi
9 pieces on the market now
The Edo Hirata school descends from Hirata Dōnin (平田道仁), the craftsman who expressed the sumptuous, luxurious beauty of Momoyama-period art in sword fittings through the technique of shippō (七宝, cloisonné enamel). Commonly known as Hikoshirō, Dōnin was a native of Kyoto, and his skills are traditionally said to have been learned from Korea. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Donin道仁 | — | 31 |
| Harunari春就 | — | 6 |
| Haruyoshi春美 | — | 0 |
| Narihisa就久 | — | 0 |
| Harumasa春正 | — | 0 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
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 siteDomestic: items may be returned within 7 days in original condition for a full refund (buyer covers transport). Overseas orders: no-refunds, no-returns.
This is a kozuka made by Hirata Narimasa, the ninth generation of the Hirata family, in the late Edo period. It features a design of three rabbits in tokusa grass, made with high relief carving and inlaid with gold on a shakudo nanako ground. It received a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate from the NBTHK in January 2020.
Certificate reading — 銘 平田就将（花押）
NihontoWatchmei · Edo
Hirata-Edo Narimasa
Edo
Musashi
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Kinko · Edo
1 piece on the market now
Where Narimasa 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.
Kinko · Musashi
9 pieces on the market now
The Edo Hirata school descends from Hirata Dōnin (平田道仁), the craftsman who expressed the sumptuous, luxurious beauty of Momoyama-period art in sword fittings through the technique of shippō (七宝, cloisonné enamel). Commonly known as Hikoshirō, Dōnin was a native of Kyoto, and his skills are traditionally said to have been learned from Korea. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Donin道仁 | — | 31 |
| Harunari春就 | — | 6 |
| Haruyoshi春美 | — | 0 |
| Narihisa就久 | — | 0 |
| Harumasa春正 | — | 0 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
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 siteDomestic: items may be returned within 7 days in original condition for a full refund (buyer covers transport). Overseas orders: no-refunds, no-returns.
