NihontoWatchAs the Tokugawa Shogunate’s influence spread throughout Japan, starting from their time as retainers to the Oda Clan in the 1500s CE up into their power grab in the year 1596 CE, changing swordsmithing trends resulted in new diasporas and the rebirth of artisanal swordsmithing, culminating in a new breed of swordsmiths who appealed to more modern sensibilities. Such an example will be analyzed through a rare naginata by the swordsmith Bishu ju Kanetake of the Inuyama School. The blade itself has a grand shape, expressing the luxury and glamour that came with an end to civil war, with a broad, leaf-shaped tip and a thinner, more refined base. Moving to the blade’s workmanship, clear elements of the Mino Tradition survive, with the jigane being comprised of a broad itame-hada with running o-hada alluding to earlier works. Ji-nie is present, although the steel takes on a darker color through an abundance of chikei along the glaive’s length. Moving to the cutting edge, the hamon is composed of a gently undulating notare-midare in nie-deki. Occasionally, togari-ba gunome are interspersed, especially approaching the tip. Hataraki are present in great number, with thick kinsuji and sunagashi running parallel to the nioi guchi, alongside yo within the hamon itself. Saka-ashi are also noted near the boshi, creating a gorgeous appearance imitating earlier works. As the hamon comes into the tip, it ends in a simple “Jizo” boshi, turning back gently to end the temper. With aesthetic descriptions accounted for, relevant measurements are listed below. Measurements: Nagasa: 40.6 cm (Understandably short, as polearms are mounted on longer shafts) Sori: 1.6 cm Motohaba: 2.91 cm (Rather fine for an early Edo Period naginata) Sakihaba: 3.2 cm (Wider than the base, as is standard with glaives of all varieties) Motokasane: 7.0 mm (Particularly thick, as is expected for grandiose polearms of mostly ceremonial use) Sakikasane: 5.0 mm The nakago of the glaive is ubu with a kengyo-jiri tip. On the naginata-omote, the goji-mei signature “Kanetake, Resident of Bishu” (尾州住兼武) is carefully inscribed. The shaft is long, with a single mekugi-ana punched into the tang, indicating a completely unaltered naginata. This is particularly rare, as most polearms have been shortened into wakizashi, and later, unaltered examples were rarely produced due to their expense and battlefield obsolescence. The blade’s shape is in shobu-zukuri, with an iori-mune. Although seen on swords, this style of geometry is most commonly seen on naginata, such as this particular example. Early examples of such work can be found in the late Heian Period, with the most famous example being a naginata allegedly owned by Musashi-Bou Benkei, held at Oyamazumi Shrine. As battlefield combat ended with the coming of the peaceful Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo Periods, such a work is particularly rare, only being elevated through the inclusion of a rare sukashi-bori (openwork) carving of a Buddhist vajra sword. The blade
Certificate reading — 銘 尾州住兼武
NihontoWatchOffered by Tosa Touken Do
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Owari · around 1658-1661
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The Edo period (1615 to 1868)
Under the Tokugawa peace the daishō became a regulated uniform, and demand gathered in the castle towns, above all Edo itself. The craft split two ways: brilliant display work for connoisseurs, and tested blades whose cutting results were sometimes inlaid in gold.
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 siteAs a rule, we do not accept returns from overseas. Once a deposit is paid, we hold the item for up to 3 months. The deposit is non-refundable.