NihontoWatchTokubetsu Hozon Token 『 Den (Aoe NAGATSUGU) 』 Token Type: 『Katana』 Mei: 『Mumei (Den) Aoe NAGATSUGU』 『Aoe NAGATSUGU』 Nihonto Kanteisho: 『Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai Tokubetsu Hozon Token』 NBTHK 『Tokubetsu Hozon Paper』 Jidai: 『Showa (Late Kamakura period)』 Production age 『1312-1317』 The early 11th-century text "Shin Sarugakuki" lists "Bitchu no Katana" (swords of Bitchu) among the famous products of various provinces. Two centuries later, the Aoe school swordsmiths emerged to inherit this reputation, flourishing primarily in the lower reaches of the Takahashi River. They are generally categorized into two groups: those active until the mid-Kamakura period are called Ko-Aoe, while those from the late Kamakura through the Nanbokucho period are broadly termed Aoe. Regarding their workmanship, Ko-Aoe works often feature a suguba style mixed with ko-midare in konie-deki with a somewhat subdued nioiguchi. By the late Kamakura period, the nie becomes calmer, and by the Nanbokucho period, the nioiguchi tightens, showing a bright and clear dekiguchi. Regarding Aoe Nagatsugu, there are smiths of the same mei recorded in the late Kamakura period (Showa era), the subsequent generation in the Nanbokucho period (Bunna era), and the early Muromachi period (Oei era). This katana has a standard mihaba with a noticeable difference between the moto and saki widths, a ko-kissaki, and funbari. The elegant tachi-sugata features a deep sori that leans more toward koshi-zori than wa-zori. Unlike the grand, robust taihai of the Nanbokucho period, it manifests the characteristics of the late Kamakura to early Nanbokucho period, confirming the kime (attribution) to Showa-era Nagatsugu. The scenery within the ha shows variety, the nioiguchi is bright and clear, and the tachi-sugata with rich hiraniku is also desirable. The production date is estimated to be roughly around the Showa era of the late Kamakura period. 『Keijo』 Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, standard mihaba, deep sori, ko-kissaki. 『Kitae』 Itame-hada, somewhat hada-tachi, jinie attaches well, fine chikei enters. 『Hamon』 Saka-choji midare mixed with juka-choji style blades, ashi and yo enter, becoming high and flamboyant up to the yaki-shinogi. 『Boshi』 Sugu with a small maru-saki, slightly hakikake, short kaeri. 『Nakago』 O-suriage, saki-kiri, yasurime-kiri, five mekugi-ana, mumei. 『Horimono』 Omote: Futasuji-hi with Bonji and suken kakinagasu. Ura: Futasuji-hi with Bonji and koshi-hi kakinagasu. 『Tsuke』 Shirasaya 『Size』 Nagasa (Blade length): 68.3cm, Sori: 2.8cm, Motohaba (Width of moto): 2.9cm, Sakihaba (Width of saki): 1.7cm, Motokasane (Thickness of moto): 0.82cm, Sakikasane (Thickness of saki): 0.43cm
NihontoWatchOffered by Taiseido
Bizen-den · Bitchu
6 pieces on the market now
Bizen in the Kamakura period
Kamakura was Bizen’s summit. Tradition places Ichimonji smiths among Go-Toba’s goban kaji, Mitsutada founded the Osafune line at mid-century, and orders flowed from the court and the warrior government alike. No province holds more National Treasure blades.
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 siteWhen the item reaches you, please check immediately for damage and that it matches your order. We bear the shipping cost for a return; please send it freight-collect. Costs other than the item price cannot be refunded.