This is a remarkable katana by Shodai (1st generation) Echizen Tsuguhiro of the Yasutsugu School, signed and dated to February 7th, 1666. It features a tameshigiri inscription recording a successful cutting test. The blade is 79.5cm long with a tight itame jihada and a clear gunome midare hamon, certified NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon. It comes with an early Edo-period koshirae featuring a Choshu Tomoyoshi iron tsuba and inden-wrapped tsuka.
NihontoWatchmei · Yasutsugu School · Kanbun (1661-1673) · nagasa 79.5cm · sori 2cm
Echizen · around 1661-1673
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 60%
5 pieces on the market now
For two and a half centuries of peace the sword was the warrior’s legal badge rather than his weapon. Each great city developed its own manner, Edo’s tested strength against Ōsaka’s polished brilliance, until demand thinned in the era’s last decades.
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 siteAll swords come with a three-day inspection period beginning from the date of delivery. If not satisfied, the sword may be returned within this period for a full refund of the purchase price. Outside of this period, all sales are final. Swords purchased on a layaway payment plan are not eligible for the three-day inspection period.
This is a remarkable katana by Shodai (1st generation) Echizen Tsuguhiro of the Yasutsugu School, signed and dated to February 7th, 1666. It features a tameshigiri inscription recording a successful cutting test. The blade is 79.5cm long with a tight itame jihada and a clear gunome midare hamon, certified NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon. It comes with an early Edo-period koshirae featuring a Choshu Tomoyoshi iron tsuba and inden-wrapped tsuka.
NihontoWatchmei · Yasutsugu School · Kanbun (1661-1673) · nagasa 79.5cm · sori 2cm
Echizen · around 1661-1673
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 60%
5 pieces on the market now
For two and a half centuries of peace the sword was the warrior’s legal badge rather than his weapon. Each great city developed its own manner, Edo’s tested strength against Ōsaka’s polished brilliance, until demand thinned in the era’s last decades.
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 siteAll swords come with a three-day inspection period beginning from the date of delivery. If not satisfied, the sword may be returned within this period for a full refund of the purchase price. Outside of this period, all sales are final. Swords purchased on a layaway payment plan are not eligible for the three-day inspection period.
