This wakizashi was signed by Hizen no Kuni Jū Minamoto no Tanehiro, a swordsmith active during the early Edo period (1624–1644). Tanehiro, who later received the honorary court title of Higo Daijō, belonged to the Ichita lineage in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, known for their distinctive hamon and jigane. The blade is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token by NBTHK, signifying its authenticity and high artistic value.
NihontoWatchmei · Ichita · Kanei (1624-1644) · nagasa 52.1cm · sori 0.9cm
Hizen · around 1624-1644
1 piece on the market now
Where Tanehiro 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.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
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 siteReturns/exchanges limited to defects caused by shipping (except willful misconduct or gross negligence by the company); customers must contact within 72 hours of receiving the product.
This wakizashi was signed by Hizen no Kuni Jū Minamoto no Tanehiro, a swordsmith active during the early Edo period (1624–1644). Tanehiro, who later received the honorary court title of Higo Daijō, belonged to the Ichita lineage in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, known for their distinctive hamon and jigane. The blade is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token by NBTHK, signifying its authenticity and high artistic value.
NihontoWatchmei · Ichita · Kanei (1624-1644) · nagasa 52.1cm · sori 0.9cm
Hizen · around 1624-1644
1 piece on the market now
Where Tanehiro 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.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
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 siteReturns/exchanges limited to defects caused by shipping (except willful misconduct or gross negligence by the company); customers must contact within 72 hours of receiving the product.
