It has arrived, it has arrived! Though it is mumei, a masterpiece wakizashi attributed as Aizu Kanesada has arrived. While the sayagaki modestly attributes it to the 8th generation Kanesada, the so-masame kitae is a specialty particularly associated with the works of the 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada. Therefore, I will describe it here as a work of the 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada—the maker of the beloved sword of the Shinsengumi Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo, who is currently at the peak of popularity.

The 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada’s real name was Furukawa Seizaemon. He was born in Aizu-Wakamatsu in Tenpo 8 (1837) (189 years ago). Due to his magnificent skill, he became a clan swordsmith for the Aizu Domain at the age of 16. Even looking at this wakizashi, one can clearly see that he possessed first-class skill as a swordsmith from a young age. In the 12th month of Bunkyu 3 (1863) at the end of the Edo period, he went to Kyoto, received the title of Izumi no Kami, and changed his mei from Kanemoto to Izumi no Kami Kanesada. The 11th generation Izumi no Kami Kanesada is the last master smith of the Aizu Kanesada lineage. Today, he is incredibly famous as the maker of Hijikata Toshizo’s sword, and the popularity of this type of wakizashi in Touken Ranbu is at its climax.

The sugata of this wakizashi shows a thick moto-kasane, wide moto-mihaba, and wide saki-mihaba with sori, presenting a grand hira-zukuri wakizashi form. The jigane displays a so-masame hada, forged into a powerful steel. The hamon is a nioi-deki with nie in a suguha style, with well-attached nie creating a very spirited edge; it truly possesses the value of a wakizashi loved by Shinsengumi Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo. There are works by the 11th generation Izumi no Kami Kanesada that boast such incredible sharpness that they were said to cut through a human body in a single stroke and into the dotan (execution mound) during tameshigiri. While the 11th generation Izumi no Kami Kanesada’s surviving works are famous, they are scarce; though this wakizashi is mumei, it is wonderful and precious.

This wakizashi has been cherished by an old family, but as they have aged, they have entrusted it to us, asking that this blade—attributed only as Aizu Kanesada due to being mumei—be passed on at a low price to someone who will treasure it. Therefore, we are offering this wakizashi, which is likely by the 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada who became particularly famous during the turbulent end of the Bakufu, at an ultra-low price. Please enjoy it.

It has arrived, it has arrived! Though it is mumei, a masterpiece wakizashi attributed as Aizu Kanesada has arrived. While the sayagaki modestly attributes it to the 8th generation Kanesada, the so-masame kitae is a specialty particularly associated with the works of the 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada. Therefore, I will describe it here as a work of the 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada—the maker of the beloved sword of the Shinsengumi Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo, who is currently at the peak of popularity.

The 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada’s real name was Furukawa Seizaemon. He was born in Aizu-Wakamatsu in Tenpo 8 (1837) (189 years ago). Due to his magnificent skill, he became a clan swordsmith for the Aizu Domain at the age of 16. Even looking at this wakizashi, one can clearly see that he possessed first-class skill as a swordsmith from a young age. In the 12th month of Bunkyu 3 (1863) at the end of the Edo period, he went to Kyoto, received the title of Izumi no Kami, and changed his mei from Kanemoto to Izumi no Kami Kanesada. The 11th generation Izumi no Kami Kanesada is the last master smith of the Aizu Kanesada lineage. Today, he is incredibly famous as the maker of Hijikata Toshizo’s sword, and the popularity of this type of wakizashi in Touken Ranbu is at its climax.

The sugata of this wakizashi shows a thick moto-kasane, wide moto-mihaba, and wide saki-mihaba with sori, presenting a grand hira-zukuri wakizashi form. The jigane displays a so-masame hada, forged into a powerful steel. The hamon is a nioi-deki with nie in a suguha style, with well-attached nie creating a very spirited edge; it truly possesses the value of a wakizashi loved by Shinsengumi Vice-Commander Hijikata Toshizo. There are works by the 11th generation Izumi no Kami Kanesada that boast such incredible sharpness that they were said to cut through a human body in a single stroke and into the dotan (execution mound) during tameshigiri. While the 11th generation Izumi no Kami Kanesada’s surviving works are famous, they are scarce; though this wakizashi is mumei, it is wonderful and precious.

This wakizashi has been cherished by an old family, but as they have aged, they have entrusted it to us, asking that this blade—attributed only as Aizu Kanesada due to being mumei—be passed on at a low price to someone who will treasure it. Therefore, we are offering this wakizashi, which is likely by the 11th generation Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada who became particularly famous during the turbulent end of the Bakufu, at an ultra-low price. Please enjoy it.