Weight (excluding saya): 995g It has arrived, it has arrived—a masterpiece by the 8th generation Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi, who represents the pinnacle of the Tadayoshi lineage. The Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi family served for generations as the official smiths of the Nabeshima Clan until the 9th generation. This lineage includes the 1st generation who laid the foundation of Hizen-to, the 2nd generation Tadahiro who brought the school to its peak of prosperity, the legendary 3rd generation Mutsu no Kami Tadayoshi, and this sword—the legendary 8th generation Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi. The 8th generation Tadayoshi was a magnificent master smith who brilliantly adorned the final era of the Tadayoshi house. The 8th generation Hashimoto Shinzaemon Tadayoshi was a swordsmith held in extremely high regard by the Nabeshima Clan. He played a vital role in the modernization of the clan during the Bakumatsu period (known by the acronym Saccho-do-hi), being deeply involved in the manufacturing of cannons and warships. He frequently demonstrated the forging of swords in the presence of the Clan Lord, proving he was a master smith trusted deeply by his lord. Due to his extraordinary skill, many of his masterpieces are often confused with the 1st or 3rd generation Tadayoshi. The sugata of this sword presents an elegant tachi-sugata. The jigane is forged in konuka-hada, showing a powerful metal texture; while there is some o-hada in parts, it should be considered a charming characteristic of its age. The hamon is the family's traditional chu-suguba, forged with a wonderfully bright and crisp nioiguchi. It is a masterpiece created with great ingenuity, a tokubetsu chumon-hin (special order item) made as a utsushi of Yamashiro Awataguchi Kunitsuna. This work dates to around the Kaei era of the Bakumatsu period (1848, 177 years ago). The koshirae is a luxurious Edo-period mounting that adds further splendor to this masterpiece by the 8th generation Tadayoshi. On this occasion, an elderly collector has entrusted us with this piece, saying, "I have grown old, so please pass this on at a low price to someone who will cherish it." Therefore, we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy this opportunity.
NihontoWatchEdo · nagasa 68.2cm · sori 1.8cm
Shinto · Hizen · around 1830-1844
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 76%
5 pieces on the market now
Shinto · Hizen
122 pieces on the market now
The Hizen Tadayoshi school began with a single domain commission. In Keicho 1 (1596) the Nabeshima of Hizen ordered Hashimoto Shinzaemon, the smith who would sign Tadayoshi, up to Kyoto with the carver Munenaga; there he entered the gate of Umetada Myoju and studied forging while Munenaga learned the chisel. The two returned to the province in Keicho 3 (1598), and Tadayoshi settled in the castle town below Saga, where under the domain's patronage the line grew into the dominant sword-making house of Kyushu. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadayoshi忠吉 | 1596-1632 | 123 |
| Tadayoshi忠吉 | 1662-1681 | 58 |
| Tadahiro忠廣 | 1624-1693 | 169 |
| Masahiro正廣 | 1624-1655 | 32 |
| Tadakuni忠國 | 1648-1652 | 32 |
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
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.
Weight (excluding saya): 995g It has arrived, it has arrived—a masterpiece by the 8th generation Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi, who represents the pinnacle of the Tadayoshi lineage. The Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi family served for generations as the official smiths of the Nabeshima Clan until the 9th generation. This lineage includes the 1st generation who laid the foundation of Hizen-to, the 2nd generation Tadahiro who brought the school to its peak of prosperity, the legendary 3rd generation Mutsu no Kami Tadayoshi, and this sword—the legendary 8th generation Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi. The 8th generation Tadayoshi was a magnificent master smith who brilliantly adorned the final era of the Tadayoshi house. The 8th generation Hashimoto Shinzaemon Tadayoshi was a swordsmith held in extremely high regard by the Nabeshima Clan. He played a vital role in the modernization of the clan during the Bakumatsu period (known by the acronym Saccho-do-hi), being deeply involved in the manufacturing of cannons and warships. He frequently demonstrated the forging of swords in the presence of the Clan Lord, proving he was a master smith trusted deeply by his lord. Due to his extraordinary skill, many of his masterpieces are often confused with the 1st or 3rd generation Tadayoshi. The sugata of this sword presents an elegant tachi-sugata. The jigane is forged in konuka-hada, showing a powerful metal texture; while there is some o-hada in parts, it should be considered a charming characteristic of its age. The hamon is the family's traditional chu-suguba, forged with a wonderfully bright and crisp nioiguchi. It is a masterpiece created with great ingenuity, a tokubetsu chumon-hin (special order item) made as a utsushi of Yamashiro Awataguchi Kunitsuna. This work dates to around the Kaei era of the Bakumatsu period (1848, 177 years ago). The koshirae is a luxurious Edo-period mounting that adds further splendor to this masterpiece by the 8th generation Tadayoshi. On this occasion, an elderly collector has entrusted us with this piece, saying, "I have grown old, so please pass this on at a low price to someone who will cherish it." Therefore, we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy this opportunity.
NihontoWatchEdo · nagasa 68.2cm · sori 1.8cm
Shinto · Hizen · around 1830-1844
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 76%
5 pieces on the market now
Shinto · Hizen
122 pieces on the market now
The Hizen Tadayoshi school began with a single domain commission. In Keicho 1 (1596) the Nabeshima of Hizen ordered Hashimoto Shinzaemon, the smith who would sign Tadayoshi, up to Kyoto with the carver Munenaga; there he entered the gate of Umetada Myoju and studied forging while Munenaga learned the chisel. The two returned to the province in Keicho 3 (1598), and Tadayoshi settled in the castle town below Saga, where under the domain's patronage the line grew into the dominant sword-making house of Kyushu. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadayoshi忠吉 | 1596-1632 | 123 |
| Tadayoshi忠吉 | 1662-1681 | 58 |
| Tadahiro忠廣 | 1624-1693 | 169 |
| Masahiro正廣 | 1624-1655 | 32 |
| Tadakuni忠國 | 1648-1652 | 32 |
Certifies a genuine blade worth preserving: a signature confirmed correct, or, if unsigned, an era, province, and school that the NBTHK can reliably identify.
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.
