This is a mokume-kitae tsuba, signed by Toshinobu, who resided in Bushu Akasaka. It was made in February of Kansei 7 (1795) at the request of Takatomi. The tsuba features a wood grain pattern forged from iron, showcasing the intricate patterns created by combining hard and soft iron, a technique favored by the Myochin school and some Bushu and Kishu kinko artists. It is thick and substantial, with a complex pattern that becomes more apparent when viewed from various angles.
mei · Akasaka · Shin-shinto




Akasaka School
Shin-shinto
Musashi
Signed
Iron-tsuba · Edo
76 pieces on the market now
The Akasaka school comprises a lineage of iron tsubako (鐔工) who relocated from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the beginning of the Edo period, thereafter flourishing until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The founding master, Shozaemon Tadamasa (忠正), is traditionally held to have been active from the Kan'ei to Meireki eras (1624--1658); a genealogical statement (yui-shogaki) submitted during the Bunsei era records that shodai Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and nidai Tadamasa in Enpo 5 (1677). Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
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.
If, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.

This is a mokume-kitae tsuba, signed by Toshinobu, who resided in Bushu Akasaka. It was made in February of Kansei 7 (1795) at the request of Takatomi. The tsuba features a wood grain pattern forged from iron, showcasing the intricate patterns created by combining hard and soft iron, a technique favored by the Myochin school and some Bushu and Kishu kinko artists. It is thick and substantial, with a complex pattern that becomes more apparent when viewed from various angles.
mei · Akasaka · Shin-shinto




Akasaka School
Shin-shinto
Musashi
Signed
Iron-tsuba · Edo
76 pieces on the market now
The Akasaka school comprises a lineage of iron tsubako (鐔工) who relocated from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the beginning of the Edo period, thereafter flourishing until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The founding master, Shozaemon Tadamasa (忠正), is traditionally held to have been active from the Kan'ei to Meireki eras (1624--1658); a genealogical statement (yui-shogaki) submitted during the Bunsei era records that shodai Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and nidai Tadamasa in Enpo 5 (1677). Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
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.
If, due to our fault, the item differs significantly from its proper condition, the item may be returned. Cooling-off is within one week of the item's arrival.
