Business Name: Meirin Sangyo Co., Ltd. Operations Manager: Takashi Tomano Location: 1-32 Rokumantai-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu 543-0074 Phone Number: TEL 06-6772-3026 FAX 06-6772-3028 Business License: Art Dealer / Antique Dealer, Osaka Prefectural Public Safety Commission Permit No. 621102002025 Additional Charges: Shipping fees, bank transfer fees (when paying by methods other than postal transfer). Cash-on-delivery (daibiki) fees apply when purchasing items other than token. Consumption tax is included in the product price. Payment Methods: Postal transfer, advance bank transfer, various credit cards, loan financing, cash-on-delivery (daibiki), etc. For postal transfer customers, a transfer form will be sent after the order is placed (fees covered by the company). Please note that it takes approximately 5 days to confirm payment. Shipping will occur upon confirmation. For bank transfers, please use the following account (fees to be paid by the customer): MUFG Bank, Ueroku Branch (Ordinary Account 0000531) Loan Examples: (Effective interest rate 8.96% for 120,000 yen) 36 Installments | 36 Installments | 24 Installments 1st payment: 4,280 yen | 3,780 yen | 7,320 yen Subsequent: 3,800 yen | 2,100 yen | 5,400 yen Bonus payment: None | 10,000 yen x 6 | None Please note: Cancellations after a loan contract is finalized will incur a cancellation fee of 10% of the loan amount. Shipping Fees: 【Token, Yoroi, Ju, etc.】 Flat rate of 1,800 yen nationwide per order; daibiki fees are free. For orders exceeding 100,000 yen, shipping is complimentary. 【Items other than Token】 Standard shipping: 880 yen Hokkaido, Okinawa (including some remote islands): 2,200 yen *Separate quotes will be provided if purchased together with token or if the order requires multiple packages. If paying by cash-on-delivery (daibiki), the following fees apply (for items other than token): Purchase amount up to 10,000 yen: 330 yen Purchase amount up to 30,000 yen: 440 yen Purchase amount up to 100,000 yen: 660 yen Purchase amount up to 300,000 yen: 1,100 yen Purchase amount up to 500,000 yen: 2,200 yen Return Deadline: Within one week of product arrival. Return Shipping: For returns due to customer preference, shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. For returns due to shipping errors or product defects, the company will cover the costs. Ordering Method: Please inquire via the form on this page, or by phone/FAX. Accepted Credit Cards: VISA / JCB / American Express (AMEX) / China UnionPay Accepted Loans: Orient Corporation (Orico)
NihontoWatchEdo
Waki-Goto Seijo
Edo
Tokubetsu Kichō (NBTHK)
Iebori · Yamashiro / Edo
4 pieces on the market now
Where Seijo 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.
Iebori · Kyoto
75 pieces on the market now
The Waki-Goto tradition designates the branch and collateral lines of the Goto mainline (soke) that sustained the family's metalworking legacy across generations while extending its reach beyond the central house in Kyoto and later Edo. The Goto family itself constituted the preeminent dynasty of sword-fitting craftsmen in Japanese history, serving successive shogunal families from the Muromachi period through the Edo era. Their work, designated iebori ("house carving"), was distinguished from the machibori ("town carving") produced for general market demand. Among the most important Waki-Goto lines were the Rihei house, established by Teijo (the ninth mainline master) and continued through Etsujo, who anchored the tradition in Kaga Province under Maeda patronage; the various mainline heads themselves -- Kojo (fourth generation), Renjo (tenth generation), and Teijo -- who shaped the canonical vocabulary; and the later Shichiroemon branch, which produced Ichijo and Koran, the terminal masters who brought the Goto heritage to its culminating expression in the Bakumatsu period. The technical vocabulary of the Waki-Goto lineages adheres with remarkable fidelity to the orthodox manner established by the founding patriarch Yujo. The characteristic ground is shakudo finished with impeccably regular nanako-ji, praised across generations for its orderly precision and deep, limpid quality. Upon this lustrous black surface, motifs are rendered through takabori and sukidashi takabori (raised high-relief carving) enriched by gold and silver iroe, with solid gold nikubori and sculptural yobori employed for menuki. The canonical Goto subjects -- dragons, lions (shishi), kirin, and clouds -- recur throughout the lineage, transmitted according to established conventions and executed with meticulous niku-dori (modulation of sculpted flesh). Kojo, identified as second in ability only to the founder, introduced preparatory drawings (shita-e) by Kano masters and is credited with originating warrior-figure and dragon-and-tiger motifs within the house.
His works display the Momoyama spirit -- heroic, dynamic, and brimming with vitality. Teijo's carving is characterized as restrained and meticulous, achieving a crisp, controlled effect, while Renjo inherited his father's methods and introduced fresh elements: robust and magnificent carving that "raises the peaks high and drives the valleys deep," recalling the grand manner of the early generations. Etsujo, transmitting the mainline aesthetic into Kaga, maintained a standard "in no way inferior to that of Teijo," and his contributions are credited with fostering the flourishing of Kaga metalwork. The later Shichiroemon branch, under Ichijo and Koran, shifted toward compositions grounded in close observation from life -- birds, flowers, and landscapes -- while sustaining the ancestral foundation of nanako-ji grounds, polychrome iroe, and chuya shitate (day-and-night construction). Across all branches, signed works are characterized as exceedingly rare and of high documentary value. The Waki-Goto tradition represents the mechanism by which the Goto house's artistic achievement was preserved, transmitted, and adapted across nearly five centuries. " The Rihei branch's transplantation to Kaga ensured that the tradition flourished beyond its Kyoto and Edo centers, while the Shichiroemon branch's culmination in Ichijo produced an artist whose command of the full kinko repertoire "adorned the shaft-end" of the entire Goto lineage. Works from across the Waki-Goto branches have been transmitted through distinguished collections -- the Konoike merchant house, the Hachisuka and Maeda daimyo families -- and carry origami appraisals from successive Goto masters assigning valuations of exceptional magnitude. In its collective continuity and its capacity to adapt the iebori heritage to changing tastes while preserving its essential dignity, the Waki-Goto tradition stands as one of the most remarkable dynasties in the decorative arts of Japan. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kojo光乗 | 1480-1670 | 5 |
| Munetomo/Sochi宗知 | — | 0 |
| Morimura Atsutaka守邨厚隆 | — | 0 |
| Taijo泰乗 | — | 0 |
| Mitsuharu光治 | — | 0 |
This work carries older NBTHK “Kichō”-era papers, which the NBTHK no longer issues and now regards as unreliable. To confirm the attribution, submission to an official Japanese examination body (such as the NBTHK or NTHK) for modern certification could be considered.
For returns due to customer circumstances, the cost is the customer's responsibility. For returns due to our mis-shipment or a defective item, we bear the cost.
Business Name: Meirin Sangyo Co., Ltd. Operations Manager: Takashi Tomano Location: 1-32 Rokumantai-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu 543-0074 Phone Number: TEL 06-6772-3026 FAX 06-6772-3028 Business License: Art Dealer / Antique Dealer, Osaka Prefectural Public Safety Commission Permit No. 621102002025 Additional Charges: Shipping fees, bank transfer fees (when paying by methods other than postal transfer). Cash-on-delivery (daibiki) fees apply when purchasing items other than token. Consumption tax is included in the product price. Payment Methods: Postal transfer, advance bank transfer, various credit cards, loan financing, cash-on-delivery (daibiki), etc. For postal transfer customers, a transfer form will be sent after the order is placed (fees covered by the company). Please note that it takes approximately 5 days to confirm payment. Shipping will occur upon confirmation. For bank transfers, please use the following account (fees to be paid by the customer): MUFG Bank, Ueroku Branch (Ordinary Account 0000531) Loan Examples: (Effective interest rate 8.96% for 120,000 yen) 36 Installments | 36 Installments | 24 Installments 1st payment: 4,280 yen | 3,780 yen | 7,320 yen Subsequent: 3,800 yen | 2,100 yen | 5,400 yen Bonus payment: None | 10,000 yen x 6 | None Please note: Cancellations after a loan contract is finalized will incur a cancellation fee of 10% of the loan amount. Shipping Fees: 【Token, Yoroi, Ju, etc.】 Flat rate of 1,800 yen nationwide per order; daibiki fees are free. For orders exceeding 100,000 yen, shipping is complimentary. 【Items other than Token】 Standard shipping: 880 yen Hokkaido, Okinawa (including some remote islands): 2,200 yen *Separate quotes will be provided if purchased together with token or if the order requires multiple packages. If paying by cash-on-delivery (daibiki), the following fees apply (for items other than token): Purchase amount up to 10,000 yen: 330 yen Purchase amount up to 30,000 yen: 440 yen Purchase amount up to 100,000 yen: 660 yen Purchase amount up to 300,000 yen: 1,100 yen Purchase amount up to 500,000 yen: 2,200 yen Return Deadline: Within one week of product arrival. Return Shipping: For returns due to customer preference, shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. For returns due to shipping errors or product defects, the company will cover the costs. Ordering Method: Please inquire via the form on this page, or by phone/FAX. Accepted Credit Cards: VISA / JCB / American Express (AMEX) / China UnionPay Accepted Loans: Orient Corporation (Orico)
NihontoWatchEdo
Waki-Goto Seijo
Edo
Tokubetsu Kichō (NBTHK)
Iebori · Yamashiro / Edo
4 pieces on the market now
Where Seijo 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.
Iebori · Kyoto
75 pieces on the market now
The Waki-Goto tradition designates the branch and collateral lines of the Goto mainline (soke) that sustained the family's metalworking legacy across generations while extending its reach beyond the central house in Kyoto and later Edo. The Goto family itself constituted the preeminent dynasty of sword-fitting craftsmen in Japanese history, serving successive shogunal families from the Muromachi period through the Edo era. Their work, designated iebori ("house carving"), was distinguished from the machibori ("town carving") produced for general market demand. Among the most important Waki-Goto lines were the Rihei house, established by Teijo (the ninth mainline master) and continued through Etsujo, who anchored the tradition in Kaga Province under Maeda patronage; the various mainline heads themselves -- Kojo (fourth generation), Renjo (tenth generation), and Teijo -- who shaped the canonical vocabulary; and the later Shichiroemon branch, which produced Ichijo and Koran, the terminal masters who brought the Goto heritage to its culminating expression in the Bakumatsu period. The technical vocabulary of the Waki-Goto lineages adheres with remarkable fidelity to the orthodox manner established by the founding patriarch Yujo. The characteristic ground is shakudo finished with impeccably regular nanako-ji, praised across generations for its orderly precision and deep, limpid quality. Upon this lustrous black surface, motifs are rendered through takabori and sukidashi takabori (raised high-relief carving) enriched by gold and silver iroe, with solid gold nikubori and sculptural yobori employed for menuki. The canonical Goto subjects -- dragons, lions (shishi), kirin, and clouds -- recur throughout the lineage, transmitted according to established conventions and executed with meticulous niku-dori (modulation of sculpted flesh). Kojo, identified as second in ability only to the founder, introduced preparatory drawings (shita-e) by Kano masters and is credited with originating warrior-figure and dragon-and-tiger motifs within the house.
His works display the Momoyama spirit -- heroic, dynamic, and brimming with vitality. Teijo's carving is characterized as restrained and meticulous, achieving a crisp, controlled effect, while Renjo inherited his father's methods and introduced fresh elements: robust and magnificent carving that "raises the peaks high and drives the valleys deep," recalling the grand manner of the early generations. Etsujo, transmitting the mainline aesthetic into Kaga, maintained a standard "in no way inferior to that of Teijo," and his contributions are credited with fostering the flourishing of Kaga metalwork. The later Shichiroemon branch, under Ichijo and Koran, shifted toward compositions grounded in close observation from life -- birds, flowers, and landscapes -- while sustaining the ancestral foundation of nanako-ji grounds, polychrome iroe, and chuya shitate (day-and-night construction). Across all branches, signed works are characterized as exceedingly rare and of high documentary value. The Waki-Goto tradition represents the mechanism by which the Goto house's artistic achievement was preserved, transmitted, and adapted across nearly five centuries. " The Rihei branch's transplantation to Kaga ensured that the tradition flourished beyond its Kyoto and Edo centers, while the Shichiroemon branch's culmination in Ichijo produced an artist whose command of the full kinko repertoire "adorned the shaft-end" of the entire Goto lineage. Works from across the Waki-Goto branches have been transmitted through distinguished collections -- the Konoike merchant house, the Hachisuka and Maeda daimyo families -- and carry origami appraisals from successive Goto masters assigning valuations of exceptional magnitude. In its collective continuity and its capacity to adapt the iebori heritage to changing tastes while preserving its essential dignity, the Waki-Goto tradition stands as one of the most remarkable dynasties in the decorative arts of Japan. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kojo光乗 | 1480-1670 | 5 |
| Munetomo/Sochi宗知 | — | 0 |
| Morimura Atsutaka守邨厚隆 | — | 0 |
| Taijo泰乗 | — | 0 |
| Mitsuharu光治 | — | 0 |
This work carries older NBTHK “Kichō”-era papers, which the NBTHK no longer issues and now regards as unreliable. To confirm the attribution, submission to an official Japanese examination body (such as the NBTHK or NTHK) for modern certification could be considered.
For returns due to customer circumstances, the cost is the customer's responsibility. For returns due to our mis-shipment or a defective item, we bear the cost.
