Ueno no Kami Yoshikuni, real name Morishita Magobei, is the elder brother of Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, the maker of the famous *aitō* (beloved sword) of Sakamoto Ryoma. According to history, Sakamoto Ryoma pleaded with his elder brother, Sakamoto Gonpei, stating that "when a man faces a national crisis, he should wear a family heirloom sword." He requested the Sakamoto family heirloom, a sword by Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki. Sakamoto Gonpei entrusted it to Saigo Takamori, who happened to be visiting Tosa at the time, and it was delivered from Saigo Takamori’s hands to Sakamoto Ryoma in Nagasaki. It is said that Ryoma held this sword until the very end when he was attacked at the Omiya on November 15, Keio 3 (December 10, 1867). Later, in the home of the descendants of Ryoma’s nephew who had migrated to Hokkaido, the sword was caught in the Great Kushiro Fire of 1913. It was subsequently donated by the descendants to the Kyoto National Museum. It was discovered that Sakamoto Ryoma’s *sashizoe* by Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki could be restored through polishing, and its exhibition has caused a great sensation. Although it is unfortunately a *yakemi* (fire-damaged blade) now, the *aitō* of Sakamoto Ryoma by Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki remains in the collection of the Kyoto National Museum. The maker of this sword, which is currently a hot topic, is the elder brother of that Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki. His home province was Oshū Nakamura, but he went to Osaka and became a pupil of the first generation Yamato no Kami Yoshimichi, living in Fushimi Ryogae-cho in Osaka. Both brothers became smiths for the Tosa Clan; in Tosa, they lived in Kusaka Village. This sword is a very rare work from his time residing in Osaka, living in Fushimi Ryogae-cho. Made around the Kanbun era of the Edo period (1661) (360 years ago), the *sugata* was originally a long sword of about 2 *shaku* 5 *sun*, but it was *suriage* by a high-ranking samurai of later generations to match his own swordsmanship. It still exhibits a magnificent, robust *sugata* with the slight *sori* typical of *Kanbun Shinto*, similar to Kotetsu. The *jigane* is powerfully forged in *ko-itame hada*. The *hamon* is a brilliant *gunome-choji* mixed with *saka-choji* based on *nioi*, executed even more skillfully than his master Yamato no Kami Yoshimichi, showing *nie-suji* within the blade and firing a spirited edge. While there is no *shirasaya*, the Edo-period *koshirae* adds further splendor to this sword. On this occasion, an old connoisseur has entrusted us with this piece, asking that it be passed on at a low price to someone who will cherish it for future generations. Please enjoy this rare and precious masterpiece by Settsu-ju Yoshikuni (Ueno no Kami Yoshikuni), the elder brother of the maker of Sakamoto Ryoma’s famous *aitō*, offered at a specially discounted price.
NihontoWatchEdo · nagasa 71.6cm · sori 1cm
Tosa · around 1658-1661
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 76%
1 piece on the market now
The Edo period (1615 to 1868)
For two and a half centuries of peace the sword was the warrior’s legal badge rather than his weapon. Each great city developed its own manner, Edo’s tested strength against Ōsaka’s polished brilliance, until demand thinned in the era’s last decades.
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.
