Perry’s arrival in 1853 unraveled the Tokugawa peace and created the first mass demand for working swords in two centuries. Kiyomaro, called the Masamune of Yotsuya, died on its eve; Munetsugu and Yukihide carried the boom to the end.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchThis katana is signed by Muneari, born in Hachinohe, Mutsu province, and active during the late Edo period (Keio 3, 1867). He trained under Koyama Munetsugu and created beautiful, sharp blades with unique innovations. The sword features a wide body, deep machi, thick kasane, and a robust chu-kissaki, with a bright, clear jigane and a distinctive gunome-midare hamon. It comes with a shirasaya and a kuro ro-iro nuri uchigatana koshirae, reflecting the style favored by samurai in the late Edo period.
NihontoWatchOffered by Choshuya
Mutsu · around 1864-1865
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 76%
4 pieces on the market now
Bakumatsu: the last war market
Perry’s arrival in 1853 unraveled the Tokugawa peace and created the first mass demand for working swords in two centuries. Kiyomaro, called the Masamune of Yotsuya, died on its eve; Munetsugu and Yukihide carried the boom to the end.
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 siteIf, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.