After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
This katana is by Munesaga of Wakasa Province (modern Obama City, Fukui Prefecture), a prominent line of swordsmiths from the Rai school active from the early to late Muromachi period. It exhibits the elegant Yamashiro-den style. The blade comes with a Kosyu-Tokubetsu-Kicho certificate from the NBTHK.
NihontoWatchmei · Rai · Muromachi · nagasa 71cm · sori 1.4cm
Yamashiro-den · Wakasa · around 1394-1428
Tōken Taikan top 37%
2 pieces on the market now
Yamashiro-den · Settsu
6 pieces on the market now
The Nakajima Rai designation identifies swordmaking traditions established when Rai Kuninaga, a disciple of the Kyōto master Rai Kunitoshi, relocated to the Nakajima district of Settsu Province during the late Kamakura period. This move represented both geographical expansion of Rai school influence beyond the imperial capital and the deliberate transplantation of technically sophisticated Kyōto nie-based forging practices into a provincial setting. According to historical sword compendia, smiths using this designation are traditionally counted as two generations: the first active during the Gentoku era (1329–1331), and the second working through the middle decades of the fourteenth century, spanning the Shōhei and Ōan eras. Signed examples are exceedingly rare, and most attributions rest on stylistic analysis of unsigned blades greatly shortened from their original dimensions. Nakajima Rai workmanship faithfully perpetuates the core technical vocabulary of the main Rai school while exhibiting slightly more restrained execution. The forging typically shows compact ko-itame-hada or itame mixed with mokume and nagare-hada, frequently with a tendency toward standing grain; the surface is heavily laden with fine ji-nie that forms in thick, crystalline masses, producing a bright, clear appearance. Chikei enter actively and repeatedly, and faint nie-utsuri often appears along the shinogi side. The hamon follows a characteristic broad suguha-based pattern, into which are mixed ko-gunome, ko-chōji, and small midare elements; within this foundation, ashi and yō enter abundantly, and the nioiguchi is uniformly described as bright and clear.
Internal activities—kinsuji, sunagashi, yubashiri, hotsure, kuichigai-ba, nijūba, and uchi-noke—appear frequently along the habuchi, creating rich variation within the temper line. The bōshi typically forms ko-maru with hakikake, often showing vigorous activity. The overall impression is one of technically accomplished nie-deki work in which the foundational suguha serves as a vehicle for highly active crystalline formations and internal dynamics, closely resembling the style of Rai Kunimitsu but yielding slightly in artistic rank. Extant Nakajima Rai blades almost invariably preserve the bold proportions characteristic of Nanbokuchō-period production: wide mihaba with little taper from base to tip, shallow or deep sori (often retaining koshizori or wazori despite shortening), and extended chū-kissaki or ō-kissaki. Even when greatly shortened, these blades retain an imposing, martial presence that pairs well with the vigorous, nie-laden forging and temper. The technical consistency across designated examples—tight itame with thick ji-nie, broad suguha with active nie, and bright nioiguchi—establishes a coherent stylistic profile that clearly descends from Kyōto Rai traditions while expressing a distinctive provincial character. The combination of robust construction, excellent preservation in surviving examples, and flavorful hataraki within both ji and ha renders Nakajima Rai an important regional expression of late Kamakura and Nanbokuchō swordmaking, preserving the technical sophistication of the capital school in a relocated context. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kuninaga國長 | 1329-1331 | 58 |
| Kuninaga國長 | 1345-1350 | 11 |
| Kuninaga國長 | 1331-1336 | 2 |
| Munenaga宗長 | 1394-1428 | 0 |
| Naga長 | 1362-1368 | 1 |
The Muromachi period (1392 to 1573)
After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
This work carries older NBTHK “Kichō”-era papers, which the NBTHK no longer issues and now regards as unreliable. To confirm the attribution, submission to an official Japanese examination body (such as the NBTHK or NTHK) for modern certification could be considered.
Returns must be shipped within 3 days of delivery. Excludes modified/damaged items or past the deadline. Return shipping paid by customer. Overseas orders cannot be returned/refunded.
¥2,000,000
This katana is by Munesaga of Wakasa Province (modern Obama City, Fukui Prefecture), a prominent line of swordsmiths from the Rai school active from the early to late Muromachi period. It exhibits the elegant Yamashiro-den style. The blade comes with a Kosyu-Tokubetsu-Kicho certificate from the NBTHK.
NihontoWatchmei · Rai · Muromachi · nagasa 71cm · sori 1.4cm
Yamashiro-den · Wakasa · around 1394-1428
Tōken Taikan top 37%
2 pieces on the market now
Yamashiro-den · Settsu
6 pieces on the market now
The Nakajima Rai designation identifies swordmaking traditions established when Rai Kuninaga, a disciple of the Kyōto master Rai Kunitoshi, relocated to the Nakajima district of Settsu Province during the late Kamakura period. This move represented both geographical expansion of Rai school influence beyond the imperial capital and the deliberate transplantation of technically sophisticated Kyōto nie-based forging practices into a provincial setting. According to historical sword compendia, smiths using this designation are traditionally counted as two generations: the first active during the Gentoku era (1329–1331), and the second working through the middle decades of the fourteenth century, spanning the Shōhei and Ōan eras. Signed examples are exceedingly rare, and most attributions rest on stylistic analysis of unsigned blades greatly shortened from their original dimensions. Nakajima Rai workmanship faithfully perpetuates the core technical vocabulary of the main Rai school while exhibiting slightly more restrained execution. The forging typically shows compact ko-itame-hada or itame mixed with mokume and nagare-hada, frequently with a tendency toward standing grain; the surface is heavily laden with fine ji-nie that forms in thick, crystalline masses, producing a bright, clear appearance. Chikei enter actively and repeatedly, and faint nie-utsuri often appears along the shinogi side. The hamon follows a characteristic broad suguha-based pattern, into which are mixed ko-gunome, ko-chōji, and small midare elements; within this foundation, ashi and yō enter abundantly, and the nioiguchi is uniformly described as bright and clear.
Internal activities—kinsuji, sunagashi, yubashiri, hotsure, kuichigai-ba, nijūba, and uchi-noke—appear frequently along the habuchi, creating rich variation within the temper line. The bōshi typically forms ko-maru with hakikake, often showing vigorous activity. The overall impression is one of technically accomplished nie-deki work in which the foundational suguha serves as a vehicle for highly active crystalline formations and internal dynamics, closely resembling the style of Rai Kunimitsu but yielding slightly in artistic rank. Extant Nakajima Rai blades almost invariably preserve the bold proportions characteristic of Nanbokuchō-period production: wide mihaba with little taper from base to tip, shallow or deep sori (often retaining koshizori or wazori despite shortening), and extended chū-kissaki or ō-kissaki. Even when greatly shortened, these blades retain an imposing, martial presence that pairs well with the vigorous, nie-laden forging and temper. The technical consistency across designated examples—tight itame with thick ji-nie, broad suguha with active nie, and bright nioiguchi—establishes a coherent stylistic profile that clearly descends from Kyōto Rai traditions while expressing a distinctive provincial character. The combination of robust construction, excellent preservation in surviving examples, and flavorful hataraki within both ji and ha renders Nakajima Rai an important regional expression of late Kamakura and Nanbokuchō swordmaking, preserving the technical sophistication of the capital school in a relocated context. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kuninaga國長 | 1329-1331 | 58 |
| Kuninaga國長 | 1345-1350 | 11 |
| Kuninaga國長 | 1331-1336 | 2 |
| Munenaga宗長 | 1394-1428 | 0 |
| Naga長 | 1362-1368 | 1 |
The Muromachi period (1392 to 1573)
After the Ōnin War broke the Ashikaga order, a century of Sengoku warfare armed nearly every province in Japan. The era rewards a discriminating eye: routine work exists in quantity, and beside it stand custom blades of the first rank.
This work carries older NBTHK “Kichō”-era papers, which the NBTHK no longer issues and now regards as unreliable. To confirm the attribution, submission to an official Japanese examination body (such as the NBTHK or NTHK) for modern certification could be considered.
Returns must be shipped within 3 days of delivery. Excludes modified/damaged items or past the deadline. Return shipping paid by customer. Overseas orders cannot be returned/refunded.
¥2,000,000
