After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
This is a signed tanto by Shodai Kanenori, a master Mino-den smith from the late Muromachi period, known for founding the Echizen-Seki school. It features a tough mokume-hada jigane with chikei and ji-nie, and a spectacular Sôshû-inspired hitatsura hamon. The koshirae is of high quality, consistent with daimyô ownership, and includes aogai-mijin-nuri scabbard, shisa lion menuki, and NTHK-NPO certified fuchi-kashira and kozuka.
NihontoWatchmei · Seki (sue-Seki) · Meio (1492-1501) · nagasa 27.6cm · sori 0.2cm
Mino · around 1492-1501
Tōken Taikan top 60%
1 piece on the market now
The Muromachi period (1392 to 1573)
After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
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 signed tanto by Shodai Kanenori, a master Mino-den smith from the late Muromachi period, known for founding the Echizen-Seki school. It features a tough mokume-hada jigane with chikei and ji-nie, and a spectacular Sôshû-inspired hitatsura hamon. The koshirae is of high quality, consistent with daimyô ownership, and includes aogai-mijin-nuri scabbard, shisa lion menuki, and NTHK-NPO certified fuchi-kashira and kozuka.
NihontoWatchmei · Seki (sue-Seki) · Meio (1492-1501) · nagasa 27.6cm · sori 0.2cm
Mino · around 1492-1501
Tōken Taikan top 60%
1 piece on the market now
The Muromachi period (1392 to 1573)
After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
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.
