Weight (toshin only): 770g It has arrived, it has arrived! Please close your eyes and imagine the era when Japan was closed to the world under sakoku. During this period of isolation, imported nanban-tetsu was so expensive and precious that the famous Tokugawa family go-oyato kaji, Echizen Yasutsugu, was granted nanban-tetsu by the Shogun's family to forge blades, and would even carve a mei specifically stating it was made with nanban-tetsu for posterity. The author of this sword, who was permitted to use such expensive nanban-tetsu, is the swordsmith Bungo-ju Yamato no Kami Fujiwara Kuniyuki, a first-class smith who was magnificent and nationally famous at the time. Circa the Kanbun era of the Edo period (1661, 363 years ago), he resided in Funai, Bungo (center of Oita City). In Bungo Funai, the 120,000-koku Funai-jo (Oita Castle, a umi-jiro) was originally built, and later it became the jinya of the Matsudaira clan, a fudai daimyo; swordsmiths displayed their skills crafting blades within the castle town. This sword was likely made for the Lord Matsudaira himself, using nanban-tetsu bestowed by him. The sugata of the sword features a wide motohaba with a distinct difference from the sakihaba and a shallow sori. This represents the tough Kanbun Shinto style, similar to the Edo Kotetsu, which featured a shallow sori suitable for the tsuki-waza (thrusting techniques) that were popular in dojos at the time. The jigane is a well-tightened itame-hada mixed with masame-hada, showing chikei and forged into a powerful steel. The hamon is a spirited, nie-laden suguha-style with sunagashi appearing within the ha, creating a blade that looks exceptionally sharp and well-made. On this occasion, an elderly collector has entrusted us with this piece, saying, "I have grown old, so please pass this on to the next generation at a low price." Therefore, we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy this meito by the master smith Bungo-ju Yamato no Kami Fujiwara Kuniyuki, crafted from precious nanban-tetsu.
Kanbun (1661-1673) · nagasa 68.9cm · sori 1cm






















Bizen-den · Bungo · around 1661-1673
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 87%
3 pieces on the market now
Bizen-den · Bungo
45 pieces on the market now
In Bungo Province on Kyushu, the early Kamakura masters Sadahide and Yukihira appeared and then, for a span, distinguished makers ceased; the setsumei repeatedly mark this gap before the line that became the Takada school took hold. The school was founded in the Nanbokuchō period by Tomoyuki, who arose at Takada Manor (Takada-shō) and signed in the long form "Hōshū Takada-shō Fujiwara Tomoyuki," with dated work surviving from the Shōhei (1349) and Jōji eras into the 1360s. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tomoyuki友行 | 1350-1367 | 15 |
| Kunifusa國房 | 1615-1624 | 5 |
| Akiyuki鑑行 | 1532-1555 | 0 |
| Kagenari景也 | 1661-1673 | 0 |
| Chikayuki及行 | 1661-1673 | 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.
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.
Weight (toshin only): 770g It has arrived, it has arrived! Please close your eyes and imagine the era when Japan was closed to the world under sakoku. During this period of isolation, imported nanban-tetsu was so expensive and precious that the famous Tokugawa family go-oyato kaji, Echizen Yasutsugu, was granted nanban-tetsu by the Shogun's family to forge blades, and would even carve a mei specifically stating it was made with nanban-tetsu for posterity. The author of this sword, who was permitted to use such expensive nanban-tetsu, is the swordsmith Bungo-ju Yamato no Kami Fujiwara Kuniyuki, a first-class smith who was magnificent and nationally famous at the time. Circa the Kanbun era of the Edo period (1661, 363 years ago), he resided in Funai, Bungo (center of Oita City). In Bungo Funai, the 120,000-koku Funai-jo (Oita Castle, a umi-jiro) was originally built, and later it became the jinya of the Matsudaira clan, a fudai daimyo; swordsmiths displayed their skills crafting blades within the castle town. This sword was likely made for the Lord Matsudaira himself, using nanban-tetsu bestowed by him. The sugata of the sword features a wide motohaba with a distinct difference from the sakihaba and a shallow sori. This represents the tough Kanbun Shinto style, similar to the Edo Kotetsu, which featured a shallow sori suitable for the tsuki-waza (thrusting techniques) that were popular in dojos at the time. The jigane is a well-tightened itame-hada mixed with masame-hada, showing chikei and forged into a powerful steel. The hamon is a spirited, nie-laden suguha-style with sunagashi appearing within the ha, creating a blade that looks exceptionally sharp and well-made. On this occasion, an elderly collector has entrusted us with this piece, saying, "I have grown old, so please pass this on to the next generation at a low price." Therefore, we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy this meito by the master smith Bungo-ju Yamato no Kami Fujiwara Kuniyuki, crafted from precious nanban-tetsu.
Kanbun (1661-1673) · nagasa 68.9cm · sori 1cm






















Bizen-den · Bungo · around 1661-1673
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 87%
3 pieces on the market now
Bizen-den · Bungo
45 pieces on the market now
In Bungo Province on Kyushu, the early Kamakura masters Sadahide and Yukihira appeared and then, for a span, distinguished makers ceased; the setsumei repeatedly mark this gap before the line that became the Takada school took hold. The school was founded in the Nanbokuchō period by Tomoyuki, who arose at Takada Manor (Takada-shō) and signed in the long form "Hōshū Takada-shō Fujiwara Tomoyuki," with dated work surviving from the Shōhei (1349) and Jōji eras into the 1360s. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tomoyuki友行 | 1350-1367 | 15 |
| Kunifusa國房 | 1615-1624 | 5 |
| Akiyuki鑑行 | 1532-1555 | 0 |
| Kagenari景也 | 1661-1673 | 0 |
| Chikayuki及行 | 1661-1673 | 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.
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.