Edo was the sword’s age of connoisseurship: the Hon’ami appraisers, the shogunal register of famous blades of 1719, and a thriving literature turned the sword into an object of study even as it ceased to be drawn in war.
This is a Tokubetsu Hozon Token designated wakizashi by Echizen no Kami Yoshikado, who was active as a Mito domain smith during the Edo period. The blade features a well-proportioned form with finely forged jigane and a relaxed hamon of large notare-midare mixed with ko-gunome. The tang is inscribed with a rare mei stating it was made in Edo after 19 years of training.
Certificate reading — 銘 濃州関善良家越前守吉門 修行拾九年以後於武州二作之
NihontoWatchmei · Sakaō Zenjō · Shoho (1644-1648) · nagasa 56cm · sori 1cm
Mino-den · Musashi · around 1644-1648
Tōken Taikan top 49%
2 pieces on the market now
Mino-den · Mino
8 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kaneshige兼重 | 1504-1521 | 0 |
| Kaneyoshi兼吉 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Kanekado兼門 | 1428-1429 | 0 |
| Yoshikado吉門 | 1624-1644 | 0 |
| Chikanori近則 | 1818-1864 | 0 |
Edo was the sword’s age of connoisseurship: the Hon’ami appraisers, the shogunal register of famous blades of 1719, and a thriving literature turned the sword into an object of study even as it ceased to be drawn in war.
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 siteCustomer-initiated returns accepted within two days of arrival; return shipping paid by customer and fees non-refundable. Returns/refunds unavailable for overseas deliveries.
This is a Tokubetsu Hozon Token designated wakizashi by Echizen no Kami Yoshikado, who was active as a Mito domain smith during the Edo period. The blade features a well-proportioned form with finely forged jigane and a relaxed hamon of large notare-midare mixed with ko-gunome. The tang is inscribed with a rare mei stating it was made in Edo after 19 years of training.
Certificate reading — 銘 濃州関善良家越前守吉門 修行拾九年以後於武州二作之
NihontoWatchmei · Sakaō Zenjō · Shoho (1644-1648) · nagasa 56cm · sori 1cm
Mino-den · Musashi · around 1644-1648
Tōken Taikan top 49%
2 pieces on the market now
Mino-den · Mino
8 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kaneshige兼重 | 1504-1521 | 0 |
| Kaneyoshi兼吉 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Kanekado兼門 | 1428-1429 | 0 |
| Yoshikado吉門 | 1624-1644 | 0 |
| Chikanori近則 | 1818-1864 | 0 |
Edo was the sword’s age of connoisseurship: the Hon’ami appraisers, the shogunal register of famous blades of 1719, and a thriving literature turned the sword into an object of study even as it ceased to be drawn in war.
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 siteCustomer-initiated returns accepted within two days of arrival; return shipping paid by customer and fees non-refundable. Returns/refunds unavailable for overseas deliveries.
