This katana is signed Minamoto Naoyoshi, a student of Taikei Naotane, and dated Ansei 6 (1859). Naoyoshi served Yamanojo Yoshimi, the first lord of Sukegawa Kaibo Castle built by Tokugawa Nariaki. The blade is healthy and measures 75.9 cm, having passed Tokubetsu Hozon Token certification in 1999.
NihontoWatchmei · Mito · Ansei (1854-1860) · nagasa 75.9cm · sori 1.5cm
Hitachi · around 1854-1860
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 siteDomestic: items may be returned within 7 days in original condition for a full refund (buyer covers transport). Overseas orders: no-refunds, no-returns.
This katana is signed Minamoto Naoyoshi, a student of Taikei Naotane, and dated Ansei 6 (1859). Naoyoshi served Yamanojo Yoshimi, the first lord of Sukegawa Kaibo Castle built by Tokugawa Nariaki. The blade is healthy and measures 75.9 cm, having passed Tokubetsu Hozon Token certification in 1999.
NihontoWatchmei · Mito · Ansei (1854-1860) · nagasa 75.9cm · sori 1.5cm
Hitachi · around 1854-1860
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 siteDomestic: items may be returned within 7 days in original condition for a full refund (buyer covers transport). Overseas orders: no-refunds, no-returns.
