NihontoWatchThis blade was signed by Bitchu no Kami Tachibana Yasuhiro(備中守橘康広). Yasuhiro was active in sword-forging during the Kanbun (1661-1673: Early Edo Period). Yasuhiro belonged to a prestigious sword school called Kishu Ishido and Osaka Ishido School. The back of the tang has an inscription of Kikumon (chrysanthemum emblem). He was allowed to inscribe this emblem, which is the symbol of the Japanese emperor. His sword forging technique was so great that the emperor permitted him to use this emblem, which was honorable for any swordsmith. Ishido School His father, Tosa Shogen Tachibana Yasuhiro(土佐将監橘康廣), was born in Omi province, located in Shiga prefecture. And he belonged to Omi Ishido school during the early Edo period. Ishido school was initially founded by Sukenaga, an offspring of Ichimonji Sukemune, who made Fukuoka Ichimonji school in Bizen province(Today’s Okayama prefecture). During 1492-1501(Late Muromachi period), Sukenaga and his school moved from Bizen province to Omi province after being summoned by Gamou family, a powerful feudal line in that region. Sukenaga started to live in front of Ishido temple, and he changed his surname to Ishido. Kishu＆ Osaka Ishido School As of the early Edo period, many Ishido swordsmiths moved to other parts of Japan, looking for better opportunities. There are four areas: Edo, Osaka, Kishu(Wakayama prefecture), and Chikuzen(Fukuoka prefecture). Omi Ishido school is the origin of whole other Ishido branches that flourished during the Edo period. Following this trend, Yasuhiro’s father, who belonged to Omi Ishido school, moved from Omi province to Kishu province. It is said that the father was the founder of Kishu Ishido school and played an essential role in making this school prosperous. Yasuhiro was born as the son of the head of Kishu Ishido school. And he mastered excellent sword forging techniques from his father. And it is said that Yasuhiro served Tokugawa Yorinobu, the first head of Kishu domain, who was the 10th son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yasuhiro exclusively forged swords for Kishu domain for many years. Later in his career, Yasuhiro received the honorable title “Bitchu no Kami” in 1657 and moved to Settsu city in Osaka to spread the tradition of Ishido school. He built the foundation of Osaka Ishido school. Yasuhiro is known as one of the most prominent figures that made Osaka Isido school prosperous during the early Edo period. Osaka city flourished as a castle town and became the business center during the early Edo period. Many swordsmiths moved to Osaka to look for better opportunities. They not only forged swords for those Samurai who lived in Osaka but also for feudal lords nationwide. Among many swordsmiths active in the same period as Yasuhiro, he was one of the most famous figures in Osaka Ishido school. It is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Touken (特別保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai: 日本美術刀剣保存協会). Fuchi-Kashira This Fuchi Kashira seems to be made of brass. The curved pattern is engraved like a spiral. Tsuka and Menuki The Ume (梅, Japanese apricot blossom) flowers are the motifs of this Menuki. Golden paint is applied to these petals and buds. Japanese apricot blossoms begin to bloom in winter when snow still covers trees. Therefore, Japanese people thought this flower tells the arrival of spring. The same as cherry blossom, it has been appreciated for a long time in Japan. People enjoy its adorable petal shape and scent, gracefully branched trees, and compose many poems. Since it comes out in the cold season, it symbolizes the power of perseverance and vitality. The Ume pattern profoundly relates to the Tenjin (天神) faith. This belief honors the soul of Sugawara-no Michizane (菅原 道真, 845-903), and he cherished this flower. Michizane excelled in academics and was appointed and promoted by the emperor back then. However, other aristocrats envied his promotions, and Michizane was demoted to the Kyushu (九州) region, far from the capital. And he passed away two years later. After his death, the capital suffered great natural disasters. And people who opposed Michizane had unfortunate experiences. People thought that his spirit caused these things, and the capital was terrified at that time. One day, when such a situation continued, Michizane possessed a person and demanded to enshrine himself. The imperial court accepted his request and built a shrine in Kyushu to appease his spirit. This was managed by the Sugawara family, a family of scholars. And Michizane, who excelled in studies during his lifetime, came to be worshiped as the god of learning. Because of this background, it is said that many family crests with the Ume designs were used in the Kinki and Kita-Kyushu regions. A former owner of this sword might have worshipped such a religious idea. Tsuba and Habaki This iron Tsuba has Yotsu-Mokkou (四ツ木瓜) shape. About the design, the Karakusa (唐草, arabesque) pattern is inlaid with brass. It is a plant pattern in which vine stems and leaves are twined and make curves. Since ivy has a strong vitality and grows up without interruption, people regarded this design as a symbol of prosperity and longevity. Vine is called the Tsuru (蔓) in Japanese, and it has another pronunciation; “Man.” There is a word 万 (it is also read Man), which means ten thousand. In the Karakusa pattern, leaves and vines are connected like Obi (帯, belt). The word “帯” can also be read “Tai.” Due to its pronunciation, the term “代 (Tai)” is associated. From this word-association game, an idiom 万代 is associated, meaning a thousand generations. In other words, we could imagine that people used this design wishing prosperity and longevity for their clans for a long time. Saya This Saya is coated with stingray skin. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on March 15th in the 30th year of Heisei (2018). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society.
Yasuhiro康廣
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Settsu · around 1684-1688
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 76%
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Where Yasuhiro 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.
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The Edo period (1615 to 1868)
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 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.