This is a katana attributed to Naoie of the Bitchu Aoe school, dating to the late Kamakura period (around Kenmu era). It is o-suriage mumei, with a slightly wide mihaba and deep sori, showing a powerful form with rich hirazaya. The blade features a soft nioiguchi suguha hamon with frequent ashi and yo, and a clear utsuri (reflection) that appears in layers.
NihontoWatchsuriage-mumei · Aoe · Kamakura · nagasa 72cm · sori 2.2cm
The Kamakura period (1185 to 1333)
Nearly every later authority calls Kamakura the golden age of the sword: the first warrior government as patron, the great traditions at full strength simultaneously, and, tradition holds, the finest smiths of the realm rotating through Go-Toba’s court.
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 siteCooling-off available within one week after arrival, Japan domestic only. Defective items may be returned; no refund if condition differs from sale or item was used.
