This is a round iron tsuba by the Akasaka school, featuring a ji-sukashi (openwork) design of dakimyouga (ginger plant crest) and karigane (wild geese). The Akasaka school, founded by Tadamasa in the Kan'ei era, was known for its innovative techniques combining Owari and Kyo-sukashi styles. This piece exhibits the characteristic round shape, thick construction, and good iron forging often seen in early Akasaka works.
Akasaka · Edo

Akasaka School
Edo
Musashi
Hozon (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Edo
76 pieces on the market now
The Akasaka school comprises a lineage of iron tsubako (鐔工) who relocated from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the beginning of the Edo period, thereafter flourishing until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The founding master, Shozaemon Tadamasa (忠正), is traditionally held to have been active from the Kan'ei to Meireki eras (1624--1658); a genealogical statement (yui-shogaki) submitted during the Bunsei era records that shodai Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and nidai Tadamasa in Enpo 5 (1677). Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
Certifies a genuine fitting worth preserving: a correct signature, or, if unsigned, an identifiable era and school, with recognized artistic and craft value.
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/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).

This is a round iron tsuba by the Akasaka school, featuring a ji-sukashi (openwork) design of dakimyouga (ginger plant crest) and karigane (wild geese). The Akasaka school, founded by Tadamasa in the Kan'ei era, was known for its innovative techniques combining Owari and Kyo-sukashi styles. This piece exhibits the characteristic round shape, thick construction, and good iron forging often seen in early Akasaka works.
Akasaka · Edo

Akasaka School
Edo
Musashi
Hozon (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Edo
76 pieces on the market now
The Akasaka school comprises a lineage of iron tsubako (鐔工) who relocated from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the beginning of the Edo period, thereafter flourishing until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The founding master, Shozaemon Tadamasa (忠正), is traditionally held to have been active from the Kan'ei to Meireki eras (1624--1658); a genealogical statement (yui-shogaki) submitted during the Bunsei era records that shodai Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and nidai Tadamasa in Enpo 5 (1677). Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
Certifies a genuine fitting worth preserving: a correct signature, or, if unsigned, an identifiable era and school, with recognized artistic and craft value.
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/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).
