NihontoWatchSummary This blade was signed by Jyounsai Hayama Enshin (浄雲斎羽山円真) in Feb, the 39th year of the Meiji era (1906). There is also an inscription that says it was made when he was 61 years old when he mastered excellent craftsmanship. Enshin was born in the second year of the Koka era (1845: The Late Edo period) in Edo city. His birth name was Suzuki Masahiro. He learned sword-forging techniques from Suzuki Masao, an apprentice of Kiyomaro, one of the most famous swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. Enshin lived in Edo city while he was a Samurai from Toyohashi city (Aichi prefecture). Enshin was one of the most renowned swordsmiths during the Meiji-Taisho era, and he preferred to use Swiss carbon steel, while other swordsmiths used Tamahagane, traditional Japanese carbon steel. He was known as a master of using western carbon steel. He was excellent at making *Utsushi of famous Japanese swords such as Awataguchi Kuniyoshi (粟田口国吉). The shape of Nakago (tang) in his work is very peculiar, and it is called Kiji Momo Gata Nakago (雉子股型茎). You can see the sudden bump on the upper part of the Nakago. It was named after the fact that its shape resembles a pheasant’s thigh. In Japanese, pheasant is pronounced as Kiji, and thigh is Momo. This Nakago shape was often found in the Tachi blades forged in the Heian and Kamakura period. Kiji Momo Gata Nakago symbolizes famous swords in ancient times. When Enshin started his career, it was the end of the Edo period, when the military government of Samurai(Tokugawa Shogunate)controlled Japan, and feudal society was the norm. There was plenty of demand for weapons from Samurais back then. However, in 1868, there was a civil war between Tokugawa’s shogunate government and the new Meiji imperial government. After this battle, the Tokugawa shogunate was ousted, and the imperial government gained control. The whole feudal system was dismantled, and the new government took Samurai’s social status. The demand for Japanese swords decreased dramatically from the beginning of the Meiji era. Many swordsmiths lost their jobs or changed their career. However, Enshin kept forging swords to keep the tradition alive. He died at 75 on Feb 14th in the 9th year of the Taisho era. *Utsushi is a Japanese sword whose specification was based on historically famous swords, but it was made by a different swordsmith to pay respect to a renowned swordsmith. It is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token(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 You would find that birds and plants are engraved on this Fuchi Kashira. The bird which is designed on the Kashira part is probably a Sagi (鷺, egret). Although its original coloring has already faded due to aging, it seems it was initially colored with silvery and golden paints. Egret is a popular motif because of its beautiful white feathers and elegant appearance. In this Fuchi Kashira, the egret is flying in the sky, and its figure is gracefully expressed. Tsuka and Menuki A man is the motif of each Menuki. We are unsure who they are; however, they all seem to be wearing costumes with different tastes. Therefore, it could be inferred that they probably have other occupations. We also want to mention what they bring in their hands. If you focus on the upper side Menuki, you will see that this man holds something like a hammer. On the other hand, the man on the lower side Menuki has a sword. This Menuki’s structure is the combination of these two men who hold weapons and face each other. From their defiant facial expressions, there is an atmosphere as if a match is about to begin. Tsuba and Habaki Oval-shaped Tsuba that has a Kougai hole. The edge of this Tsuba is framed with a thin metal plate. As we could find several dents on this frame, it shows this plate has protected this Tsuba from damages such as enemies’ attacks. About the design, some motifs are challenging to see now because these have been partly worn away. But we could see that several patterns are engraved on this work: square shapes, flower shapes, and also a spiral design, etcetera. There are gold coloring and parts that make use of copper brown. We imagine that this Tsuba was originally more decorative work. However, the current condition is the antique texture, and we would like you to enjoy it as proof that it is a work with a long history. Kougai It is stored in the Kougai Hitsu (groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword). This item is an antique Kougai (笄), which was used to arrange or fix the hairstyle of Samurai. The Kougai is usually stored in the Kougai Hitsu. And the Kozuka (小柄) is often stored on the other side of the scabbard. This Kougai is separated into two parts; this type is categorized as the Wari Kougai (割笄). This separated type was invented in the Edo period and became popular as decorative metal fittings. According to a theory, some people used the Wari Kougai as chopsticks; however, there is no sure proof. On this Kougai, you would find that a pattern combining straight lines is designed. Also, it seems these lines are inlaid with golden paint, which is probably brass. We can get a glimpse of the trend of being particular about the appearance of sword mountings from the fact that such small details were decorated. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on Dec. 3rd in the 3rd year of Reiwa (2021). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society.
Enshin圓眞
Offered by Samurai Museum
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Musashi · around 1868-1912
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 87%
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Shōwa to the present: destruction and revival
The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa 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 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.