NihontoWatchThis katana by Yoshitsugu, active from the late Edo to Meiji period in Hoki province, is a practical and robust blade. It features a well-balanced width, slightly extended kissaki, and thick kasane, showcasing a powerful yet sharp construction. The jigane is primarily mokume with mixed iron and fine chikei, while the hamon is a bright suguha with nezumi-ashi and a maru boshi.
Certificate reading — 銘 伯耆國吉次 慶應二年八月日
NihontoWatchOffered by Toushin
Hoki · around 1868-1912
1 piece on the market now
Meiji: survival after the edict
The Haitōrei edict of 1876 ended sword wearing and nearly ended the craft itself. Military demand and imperial patronage kept a remnant alive, and in 1906 Gassan Sadakazu and Miyamoto Kanenori were named Artists to the Imperial Household.
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 siteReturns accepted within 3 days of delivery for defective items or significant discrepancies; customer bears return shipping and bank fees.
¥407,000