The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
This is a newly forged katana by the modern smith Kunitada (Komia Yokimitsu), made in Reiwa 6 (2024) for iaido practice. The blade is well-balanced and produces good sound, complemented by new fittings. Kunitada is based in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and is a descendant of the Shiro Kunimitsu lineage, a smith family that served the Tachibana clan of Chikugo Yanagawa domain since 1786.
NihontoWatchmei · Heisei (1989-2019) · nagasa 66.9cm · sori 1.6cm
Chikugo · around 1989-
3 pieces on the market now
Shōwa to the present: destruction and revival
The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
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.
¥690,000
