This is a tanto by Kagenaga from Inaba Province, active from the late Nanbokucho period to the early Muromachi period (around Ouei era). While older texts suggest a lineage from Awataguchi Yoshimasa of the late Kamakura period, confirmed works date from the late Nanbokucho period onwards. The style shows strong influence from Bizen sword smiths, with a prominent gunome hamon, evident in this piece.
NihontoWatchBETA
Wakimono · Inaba · around 1362-1368
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 21%
Where Kagenaga stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Wakimono · Inaba
The Kagenaga smiths worked in Inaba Province (因州, Inshū), and the setsumei place their beginnings at the close of the Kamakura period, carrying the name forward in successive generations into the Muromachi era. The notices record a first generation set in the Kagen era (1303 to 1306) and a second in the Kenmu era (1334 to 1338), with the same signature continuing down to the Ōei era (1394 to 1428), from which the rare dated examples survive. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kagenaga景長 | 1362-1368 | 3 |
| Kagenaga景長 | 1317-1319 | 1 |
| Kagenaga景長 | 1288-1293 | 7 |
| Kagenaga景長 | 1394-1428 | 7 |
| Tadakuni忠國 | 1673-1681 | 2 |
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
If, 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.
This is a tanto by Kagenaga from Inaba Province, active from the late Nanbokucho period to the early Muromachi period (around Ouei era). While older texts suggest a lineage from Awataguchi Yoshimasa of the late Kamakura period, confirmed works date from the late Nanbokucho period onwards. The style shows strong influence from Bizen sword smiths, with a prominent gunome hamon, evident in this piece.
NihontoWatchBETAWakimono · Inaba · around 1362-1368
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 21%
Where Kagenaga stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Wakimono · Inaba
The Kagenaga smiths worked in Inaba Province (因州, Inshū), and the setsumei place their beginnings at the close of the Kamakura period, carrying the name forward in successive generations into the Muromachi era. The notices record a first generation set in the Kagen era (1303 to 1306) and a second in the Kenmu era (1334 to 1338), with the same signature continuing down to the Ōei era (1394 to 1428), from which the rare dated examples survive. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kagenaga景長 | 1362-1368 | 3 |
| Kagenaga景長 | 1317-1319 | 1 |
| Kagenaga景長 | 1288-1293 | 7 |
| Kagenaga景長 | 1394-1428 | 7 |
| Tadakuni忠國 | 1673-1681 | 2 |
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
If, 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.
