This tachi originally bore a sayagaki by Master Sato Kanzan attributing it to Kinju, the founder of the Mino smiths; however, in the Hozon Token shinsa (judgment), it was attributed to Omiya of Bizen. As you can see, this blade was originally a grand o-tachi from the Nanbokucho period Enbun-Joji era measuring over 2 shaku 6 sun, which has been suriage. It presents a magnificent sugata with a wide moto-mihaba and saki-mihaba, and an extended kissaki. The jigane is forged in itame-hada with abundant ji-nie and many chikei appearing in the ji. Due to its age, some larger patterns (o-hada) in the forge appear, but this is considered a charming characteristic (go-aikyo) of its antiquity. Regarding the horimono, the bo-hi is carved through (kakinagashi), and the thick, imposing hi is truly splendid. On the mune, there remain four small nicks from receiving an opponent's blade; since ancient times, such marks are known as "homare no kizu" (wounds of honor) sustained in victorious battle, and as evidence of the blade's toughness, they often commanded a premium of 30% or more in value. The hamon is a varied gunome-midare in nioi with ko-nie, featuring small tobiyaki in the ji. Within the ha, many kinsuji and sunagashi appear, making it a sword of wonderful spirit (haki). While the founder of Mino smiths, Kinju, has almost no extant tachi and his work can sometimes appear somewhat unrefined, this blade is remarkably sophisticated (akanuketa); therefore, it is appropriate that it was attributed as an o-suriage work by Morikage of the Omiya school, one of Bizen's first-rate smiths. It is a very old meito produced around the Joji era (1362) of the Nanbokucho period (658 years ago). This specific sugata was later emulated by the Kyoto Horikawa Kunihiro school in what is called Keicho Shinto, and was also copied by the Bakumatsu master Minamoto Kiyomaro. Please enjoy this meito attributed to Morikage, featuring the wonderful hataraki of the Nanbokucho Omiya school. We are offering it at a special bargain price.
NihontoWatchBETAmumei · Nanbokucho · nagasa 66.1cm · sori 1.7cm
Bizen-den · Bizen
7 pieces on the market now
The Omiya school (大宮) of Bizen traces its name and its blood to Kyoto, not to the Bizen heartland where it eventually settled. The published sources follow the line back to a remote ancestor, Kunimori, who is said to have left Inokuma Omiya in Yamashiro province and moved into Bizen during the Kamakura period, around the Bun'o years. With him the group carried a Yamashiro sensibility into the province of choji, and that transplanted origin remains the key to everything the school later became. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Morikage盛景 | 1356-1390 | 92 |
| Morikage盛景 | 1299-1302 | 5 |
| Tomomori友盛 | 1156-1159 | 0 |
| Tsugumori次盛 | 1338-1342 | 0 |
| Tsugumori次盛 | 1278-1288 | 0 |
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
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 siteFor returns due to customer circumstances, the cost is the customer's responsibility. For returns due to our mis-shipment or a defective item, we bear the cost.
This tachi originally bore a sayagaki by Master Sato Kanzan attributing it to Kinju, the founder of the Mino smiths; however, in the Hozon Token shinsa (judgment), it was attributed to Omiya of Bizen. As you can see, this blade was originally a grand o-tachi from the Nanbokucho period Enbun-Joji era measuring over 2 shaku 6 sun, which has been suriage. It presents a magnificent sugata with a wide moto-mihaba and saki-mihaba, and an extended kissaki. The jigane is forged in itame-hada with abundant ji-nie and many chikei appearing in the ji. Due to its age, some larger patterns (o-hada) in the forge appear, but this is considered a charming characteristic (go-aikyo) of its antiquity. Regarding the horimono, the bo-hi is carved through (kakinagashi), and the thick, imposing hi is truly splendid. On the mune, there remain four small nicks from receiving an opponent's blade; since ancient times, such marks are known as "homare no kizu" (wounds of honor) sustained in victorious battle, and as evidence of the blade's toughness, they often commanded a premium of 30% or more in value. The hamon is a varied gunome-midare in nioi with ko-nie, featuring small tobiyaki in the ji. Within the ha, many kinsuji and sunagashi appear, making it a sword of wonderful spirit (haki). While the founder of Mino smiths, Kinju, has almost no extant tachi and his work can sometimes appear somewhat unrefined, this blade is remarkably sophisticated (akanuketa); therefore, it is appropriate that it was attributed as an o-suriage work by Morikage of the Omiya school, one of Bizen's first-rate smiths. It is a very old meito produced around the Joji era (1362) of the Nanbokucho period (658 years ago). This specific sugata was later emulated by the Kyoto Horikawa Kunihiro school in what is called Keicho Shinto, and was also copied by the Bakumatsu master Minamoto Kiyomaro. Please enjoy this meito attributed to Morikage, featuring the wonderful hataraki of the Nanbokucho Omiya school. We are offering it at a special bargain price.
NihontoWatchBETAmumei · Nanbokucho · nagasa 66.1cm · sori 1.7cm
Bizen-den · Bizen
7 pieces on the market now
The Omiya school (大宮) of Bizen traces its name and its blood to Kyoto, not to the Bizen heartland where it eventually settled. The published sources follow the line back to a remote ancestor, Kunimori, who is said to have left Inokuma Omiya in Yamashiro province and moved into Bizen during the Kamakura period, around the Bun'o years. With him the group carried a Yamashiro sensibility into the province of choji, and that transplanted origin remains the key to everything the school later became. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Morikage盛景 | 1356-1390 | 92 |
| Morikage盛景 | 1299-1302 | 5 |
| Tomomori友盛 | 1156-1159 | 0 |
| Tsugumori次盛 | 1338-1342 | 0 |
| Tsugumori次盛 | 1278-1288 | 0 |
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
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 siteFor returns due to customer circumstances, the cost is the customer's responsibility. For returns due to our mis-shipment or a defective item, we bear the cost.
