Sengoku Seki was an industry: smiths organized under their tutelary Kasuga shrine, arming the war bands of central Japan. Magoroku Kanemoto’s sanbonsugi and the finest Kanesada work prove quality survived inside mass production.
An exceptional Japanese katana signed Masatoshi, attributed to the Sakakura Seki school of the Mino tradition, dating to approximately 1532–1558. The blade features a substantial nagasa of 71.2 cm, fine ko-itame hada, and an active gunome-midare hamon. It comes with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certification, its original 1951 torokusho, a complete koshirae with period fittings, and a shirasaya.
NihontoWatchmei · Sakakura Seki · Muromachi · nagasa 71.2cm
Mino-den · Mino · around 1504-1521
Tōken Taikan top 49%
2 pieces on the market now
Where Masatoshi 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
2 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Masatoshi正利 | 1504-1521 | 1 |
| Masatoshi正俊 | 1487-1489 | 1 |
Sengoku Seki was an industry: smiths organized under their tutelary Kasuga shrine, arming the war bands of central Japan. Magoroku Kanemoto’s sanbonsugi and the finest Kanesada work prove quality survived inside mass production.
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 site14-day return if items arrive damaged or in unexpected condition; customer bears return shipping + insurance; items returned in original condition with all accessories; antique armour non-returnable; only regular priced items refundable; shipping costs non-refundable.
An exceptional Japanese katana signed Masatoshi, attributed to the Sakakura Seki school of the Mino tradition, dating to approximately 1532–1558. The blade features a substantial nagasa of 71.2 cm, fine ko-itame hada, and an active gunome-midare hamon. It comes with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certification, its original 1951 torokusho, a complete koshirae with period fittings, and a shirasaya.
NihontoWatchmei · Sakakura Seki · Muromachi · nagasa 71.2cm
Mino-den · Mino · around 1504-1521
Tōken Taikan top 49%
2 pieces on the market now
Where Masatoshi 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
2 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Masatoshi正利 | 1504-1521 | 1 |
| Masatoshi正俊 | 1487-1489 | 1 |
Sengoku Seki was an industry: smiths organized under their tutelary Kasuga shrine, arming the war bands of central Japan. Magoroku Kanemoto’s sanbonsugi and the finest Kanesada work prove quality survived inside mass production.
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 site14-day return if items arrive damaged or in unexpected condition; customer bears return shipping + insurance; items returned in original condition with all accessories; antique armour non-returnable; only regular priced items refundable; shipping costs non-refundable.
