It has appeared, it has appeared! From an old family estate where it was cherished for generations, a wakizashi by Noshu Seki-ju Kanefusa has emerged. This Kanefusa was the 5th generation; in the 2nd year of Koji (1556) (470 years ago), he was granted the position of Soryo-shiki (head of the Seki smiths) by his eldest brother Iwami no Kami Kunifusa, succeeding the Zenjo main house. By the recommendation of Lord Oda Nobunaga, in the 13th year of Eiroku (1570) (456 years ago), he received the title of Wakasa no Kami and later changed his name to Wakasa no Kami Ujifusa. This wakizashi was crafted exactly during the time of the Battle of Anegawa in the 13th year of Eiroku (1570) (456 years ago), where the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu fought a fierce battle against the allied forces of Azai Nagasawa and Asakura Yoshikage. The sugata shows a hira-zukuri wakizashi form with a difference between the moto-mihaba and saki-mihaba and a distinct sori. The jigane is a well-tightened itame-hada mixed with masame-hada. Regarding the horimono, a gomabashi is carved on the omote, and a koshi-hi is carved on the ura, showing skillful work. The hamon is a nioi-deki style known as "Kanefusa Midare," featuring large o-gunome midare-ba with round tobiyaki, executed with great skill. The Edo-period koshirae, featuring a kuro-ro-saya (black lacquer scabbard), is elegant and adds further splendor to this Noshu Seki-ju Kanefusa wakizashi. We received this wakizashi from an old family who has cherished it for generations; however, as they have grown old, they requested we pass it on at a low price to someone who will treasure it in the future. Because the koshirae is nearly 200 years old, the tsuka-ito has some deficiencies and there is some light rust due to lack of maintenance; therefore, we are offering it at a special, ultra-low price. Please enjoy this wakizashi by Noshu Seki-ju Kanefusa, famous as the leader of the Mino Seki smiths.
NihontoWatchMuromachi · nagasa 36cm · sori 0.8cm
Mino-den · Mino · around 1558-1570
Tōken Taikan top 26%
3 pieces on the market now
Kanefusa is among the best-known smiths of the Mino tradition in the Muromachi period, working from the town of Seki in Noshu. According to sword-signature reference works, his origins lie with the Akasaka smiths, and the first generation is considered to have been Shigefusa, active around the Kakitsu era (1441-1444). The name continued under successive generations from the mid-Muromachi period into the shinto era. Among extant dated works, examples are recorded from the Bunmei, Tenbun, Eiroku, and Tensho eras, with the greatest number of surviving pieces — including those bearing two-character signatures — dating from approximately Eiroku through Tensho. Most long-signature examples are cut "Noshu Seki-ju," confirming that the smith resided in Seki.
Kanefusa is particularly famed for having devised the temper pattern known as "Kanefusa midare" (also termed Kenbo midare), an idiosyncratic gunome-choji whose heads are rounded and whose waists constrict. Beyond this signature style, works also appear in notare and in sanbonsugi-midare in the manner of Kanemoto, demonstrating a broad range of expression. The forging typically shows itame-hada with a tendency toward nagare, accompanied by ji-nie and an overall shirake-gokoro — a whitish cast characteristic of Mino workmanship. The nioiguchi tends toward tightness with ko-nie adhering, and finer examples display tobiyaki and muneyaki interspersed throughout, producing a varied and lively temper. The bold, vigorous style associated with later Mino workmanship is consistently evident.
Kanefusa's best works are praised by the NBTHK as notably vigorous and full of spirited force, with ample nikuoki and robust overall shape deemed particularly pleasing. Blades in sound condition are recognized as kenzen, with both ji and ha well executed. The flamboyant expression of the distinctive midare, combined with wide mihaba and o-kissaki, produces an imposing sugata of dignified presence. Several designated examples also bear gold-inlaid cutting-test inscriptions of considerable documentary value, attesting to the practical esteem in which these blades were held during the Edo period.
Where Kanefusa stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Mino-den · Mino
150 pieces on the market now
Seki (関), in Mino Province, grew from two roots set down in the Nanbokuchō period and rose to become the great center of mass sword production in the late medieval age. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kinju金重 | 1340-1346 | 45 |
| Ujifusa氏房 | 1596-1615 | 16 |
| Kaneyuki金行 | 1350-1352 | 10 |
| Ujifusa氏房 | 1571-1592 | 9 |
| Kanekore兼之 | 1504-1555 | 7 |
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
For 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.
It has appeared, it has appeared! From an old family estate where it was cherished for generations, a wakizashi by Noshu Seki-ju Kanefusa has emerged. This Kanefusa was the 5th generation; in the 2nd year of Koji (1556) (470 years ago), he was granted the position of Soryo-shiki (head of the Seki smiths) by his eldest brother Iwami no Kami Kunifusa, succeeding the Zenjo main house. By the recommendation of Lord Oda Nobunaga, in the 13th year of Eiroku (1570) (456 years ago), he received the title of Wakasa no Kami and later changed his name to Wakasa no Kami Ujifusa. This wakizashi was crafted exactly during the time of the Battle of Anegawa in the 13th year of Eiroku (1570) (456 years ago), where the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu fought a fierce battle against the allied forces of Azai Nagasawa and Asakura Yoshikage. The sugata shows a hira-zukuri wakizashi form with a difference between the moto-mihaba and saki-mihaba and a distinct sori. The jigane is a well-tightened itame-hada mixed with masame-hada. Regarding the horimono, a gomabashi is carved on the omote, and a koshi-hi is carved on the ura, showing skillful work. The hamon is a nioi-deki style known as "Kanefusa Midare," featuring large o-gunome midare-ba with round tobiyaki, executed with great skill. The Edo-period koshirae, featuring a kuro-ro-saya (black lacquer scabbard), is elegant and adds further splendor to this Noshu Seki-ju Kanefusa wakizashi. We received this wakizashi from an old family who has cherished it for generations; however, as they have grown old, they requested we pass it on at a low price to someone who will treasure it in the future. Because the koshirae is nearly 200 years old, the tsuka-ito has some deficiencies and there is some light rust due to lack of maintenance; therefore, we are offering it at a special, ultra-low price. Please enjoy this wakizashi by Noshu Seki-ju Kanefusa, famous as the leader of the Mino Seki smiths.
NihontoWatchMuromachi · nagasa 36cm · sori 0.8cm
Mino-den · Mino · around 1558-1570
Tōken Taikan top 26%
3 pieces on the market now
Kanefusa is among the best-known smiths of the Mino tradition in the Muromachi period, working from the town of Seki in Noshu. According to sword-signature reference works, his origins lie with the Akasaka smiths, and the first generation is considered to have been Shigefusa, active around the Kakitsu era (1441-1444). The name continued under successive generations from the mid-Muromachi period into the shinto era. Among extant dated works, examples are recorded from the Bunmei, Tenbun, Eiroku, and Tensho eras, with the greatest number of surviving pieces — including those bearing two-character signatures — dating from approximately Eiroku through Tensho. Most long-signature examples are cut "Noshu Seki-ju," confirming that the smith resided in Seki.
Kanefusa is particularly famed for having devised the temper pattern known as "Kanefusa midare" (also termed Kenbo midare), an idiosyncratic gunome-choji whose heads are rounded and whose waists constrict. Beyond this signature style, works also appear in notare and in sanbonsugi-midare in the manner of Kanemoto, demonstrating a broad range of expression. The forging typically shows itame-hada with a tendency toward nagare, accompanied by ji-nie and an overall shirake-gokoro — a whitish cast characteristic of Mino workmanship. The nioiguchi tends toward tightness with ko-nie adhering, and finer examples display tobiyaki and muneyaki interspersed throughout, producing a varied and lively temper. The bold, vigorous style associated with later Mino workmanship is consistently evident.
Kanefusa's best works are praised by the NBTHK as notably vigorous and full of spirited force, with ample nikuoki and robust overall shape deemed particularly pleasing. Blades in sound condition are recognized as kenzen, with both ji and ha well executed. The flamboyant expression of the distinctive midare, combined with wide mihaba and o-kissaki, produces an imposing sugata of dignified presence. Several designated examples also bear gold-inlaid cutting-test inscriptions of considerable documentary value, attesting to the practical esteem in which these blades were held during the Edo period.
Where Kanefusa stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.
Select a lens to see how it's measured.
Mino-den · Mino
150 pieces on the market now
Seki (関), in Mino Province, grew from two roots set down in the Nanbokuchō period and rose to become the great center of mass sword production in the late medieval age. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Kinju金重 | 1340-1346 | 45 |
| Ujifusa氏房 | 1596-1615 | 16 |
| Kaneyuki金行 | 1350-1352 | 10 |
| Ujifusa氏房 | 1571-1592 | 9 |
| Kanekore兼之 | 1504-1555 | 7 |
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
For 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.
