This is a celebrated meito by the famous Kyushu Higo Dotanuki Munehiro, crafted in the 3rd year of Meiji (1870) (152 years ago). While one occasionally sees katana made in Meiji 3, this was the year the Meiji government first issued the Haitorei (Sword Abolishment Edict). It is a katana created to be preserved for posterity, forged with the swordsmith’s profound resolution as a "final dedication" (uchinosame). Munehiro is a master smith who represents the pinnacle of the Dotanuki school, claiming descent as the 10th generation grandson of the famous Kyushu Higo Dotanuki Kozuke-no-suke. A Kyushu Higo Dotanuki is a katana that every sword enthusiast wishes to own at least one of. This katana is an extremely precious piece where Munehiro has copied the Kamakura period Yamashiro Rai Kunitoshi. The sugata exhibits a form with little sori, the jigane is a finely packed ko-itame hada forged into a bright steel, and the horimono features skillfully executed bo-hi kakinagashi. The hamon is a typical meito by Munehiro, featuring a nioi-deki based straight suguba with nie, fired deeply and with great haki (spirit) in the style of Rai Kunitoshi. Dotanuki school swords became instantly famous and highly popular as the haito of the protagonist Ogami Itto in Kinnosuke Yorozuya's "Kozure Okami" (Lone Wolf and Cub), becoming the swords traded at the highest prices in the post-war era. Please enjoy this masterpiece intended for posterity by the historically famous Kyushu Higo Dotanuki Munehiro. As this has appeared on the market for the first time (nama-dashi), we are offering it at a special low price. Please enjoy it.
NihontoWatchBETAMeiji · nagasa 65.8cm · sori 1.6cm
Bizen-den · Higo · around 1830-1868
Tōken Taikan top 87%
1 piece on the market now
Bizen-den · Higo
12 pieces on the market now
The Dōtanuki (同田貫) line took shape in Kikuchi District of Higo Province toward the close of the Muromachi period and carried its activity forward into the shintō era, spanning the Momoyama transition into early Edo. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Muneharu宗春 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Kunikatsu國勝 | 1558-1570 | 0 |
| Kagemasa景和 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
| Munehiro宗廣 | 1830-1868 | 0 |
| Kozukenosuke上野介 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
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 siteFor 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.
This is a celebrated meito by the famous Kyushu Higo Dotanuki Munehiro, crafted in the 3rd year of Meiji (1870) (152 years ago). While one occasionally sees katana made in Meiji 3, this was the year the Meiji government first issued the Haitorei (Sword Abolishment Edict). It is a katana created to be preserved for posterity, forged with the swordsmith’s profound resolution as a "final dedication" (uchinosame). Munehiro is a master smith who represents the pinnacle of the Dotanuki school, claiming descent as the 10th generation grandson of the famous Kyushu Higo Dotanuki Kozuke-no-suke. A Kyushu Higo Dotanuki is a katana that every sword enthusiast wishes to own at least one of. This katana is an extremely precious piece where Munehiro has copied the Kamakura period Yamashiro Rai Kunitoshi. The sugata exhibits a form with little sori, the jigane is a finely packed ko-itame hada forged into a bright steel, and the horimono features skillfully executed bo-hi kakinagashi. The hamon is a typical meito by Munehiro, featuring a nioi-deki based straight suguba with nie, fired deeply and with great haki (spirit) in the style of Rai Kunitoshi. Dotanuki school swords became instantly famous and highly popular as the haito of the protagonist Ogami Itto in Kinnosuke Yorozuya's "Kozure Okami" (Lone Wolf and Cub), becoming the swords traded at the highest prices in the post-war era. Please enjoy this masterpiece intended for posterity by the historically famous Kyushu Higo Dotanuki Munehiro. As this has appeared on the market for the first time (nama-dashi), we are offering it at a special low price. Please enjoy it.
NihontoWatchBETAMeiji · nagasa 65.8cm · sori 1.6cm
Bizen-den · Higo · around 1830-1868
Tōken Taikan top 87%
1 piece on the market now
Bizen-den · Higo
12 pieces on the market now
The Dōtanuki (同田貫) line took shape in Kikuchi District of Higo Province toward the close of the Muromachi period and carried its activity forward into the shintō era, spanning the Momoyama transition into early Edo. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Muneharu宗春 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Kunikatsu國勝 | 1558-1570 | 0 |
| Kagemasa景和 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
| Munehiro宗廣 | 1830-1868 | 0 |
| Kozukenosuke上野介 | 1596-1615 | 0 |
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 siteFor 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.
