Perry’s arrival in 1853 unraveled the Tokugawa peace and created the first mass demand for working swords in two centuries. Kiyomaro, called the Masamune of Yotsuya, died on its eve; Munetsugu and Yukihide carried the boom to the end.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchTokubetsu Hozon With Koshirae Talisman of Protection from Demons Hamon : Nie-deki suguha. The nioi guchi is thick and vivid. Kuchigaiba activities can be seen on both sides of the blade. Boshi : Ko-maru that has a concentration of nie at the turn and ends with a long return on both sides. The ura return is rounded, and the omote is more pointed. Kitae : Tight ko-mokume hada-nearly muji hada. There is ample ji-nie, especially near the habuchi. About this sword : Gassan Sadaharu was from the mon of Gassan Sadayoshi. He is ranked at 1.5 million yen in the Toko Taikan and chu-saku in Fujishiro’s Shinto Hen. He worked in Osaka and was active from around 1865-1912. This mei bears Sadaharu's studio name Kenryushi (剣龍子). He also used Kensaishi during his career. The blade is in full polish and has no kizu. The polish, shirasaya, tsunagi, and custom-fitted kiri-bako were all done in Japan and are high-quality. Many of Sadaharu's works are large, have o-kissaki, and even his tanto have a "big" personality. This blade is no exception, with its kasane of 10 mm, making it a powerful yori-doshi, and its demon-protection horimono that is bold and dynamic. The mei of this sword states that it was made at Ikutama Shrine in Osaka. This place of creation speaks to the purpose of this tanto as a talisman against evil. Talisman of Protection from Demons : The hori-mono of this tanto reads: 降魔 護身 "Goma Goshin" Goma Means "Demon-subduing" or "Vanquishing evil". This phrase is often used in Buddhist or martial contexts to signify spiritual strength and the power to overcome malevolent forces. Goshin Means "Self-protection" or "Protection of the body". It conveys the idea of safeguarding oneself - both physically and spiritually - and is a common inscription on weapons or talismans. The meaning of this dedication is that this tanto was made to protect the owner from demons and evil. This is a powerful horimono and adds a layer of mysticism to the blade in addition to appreciation of the fine ji-ba and the quality of the carving. The koshirae for this tanto is a unique example with a special-shaped saya. The menuki are shi-shi dogs in shakudo. There is a Higo-school iron bashin with gold nunome. The rest of the fittings are horn. The saya's red urushi has some small rubs and marks, which is commensurate with its age. This Sadaharu received Tokubetsu Hozon papers in 2020. It is accompanied by a large custom-fitted kiri-bako with sanada-himo ribbon ties. There is a gold-foil habaki, a shirasaya, and a tsunagi for the koshirae. Overall, this is a stunning complete package, and the demon-protection horimono adds a mysterious aspect to its appreciation.
Offered by Nihontocraft
4 on the market
As written by the shop
Shinshinto · Settsu · around 1865-1868
Tōken Taikan top 95%
4 pieces on the market now
Shinshinto · Settsu
28 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sadaharu貞晴 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1926-1989 | 0 |
| Yoshiaki吉明 | 1844-1848 | 0 |
| Naonobu直信 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sadayoshi貞吉 | 1830-1863 | 0 |
Bakumatsu: the last war market
Perry’s arrival in 1853 unraveled the Tokugawa peace and created the first mass demand for working swords in two centuries. Kiyomaro, called the Masamune of Yotsuya, died on its eve; Munetsugu and Yukihide carried the boom to the end.
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 site3 day inspection period on all sales. Items can be returned for any reason for a full refund, less return shipping cost. Returned items must be in the same condition as when purchased.
$8,500