This is an Akasaka school tsuba. The Akasaka school was founded by Tadamasa and his son who moved to Edo around the Kan'ei era. This tsuba features a round shape, iron base, openwork carving, and round ears.
Certificate reading — 無銘(赤坂)
mei · early Edo (c. 1620)

















Akasaka School
early Edo (c. 1620)
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Edo
76 pieces on the market now
The Akasaka school comprises a lineage of iron tsubako (鐔工) who relocated from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the beginning of the Edo period, thereafter flourishing until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The founding master, Shozaemon Tadamasa (忠正), is traditionally held to have been active from the Kan'ei to Meireki eras (1624--1658); a genealogical statement (yui-shogaki) submitted during the Bunsei era records that shodai Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and nidai Tadamasa in Enpo 5 (1677). Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
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 siteReturns/exchanges/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).

This is an Akasaka school tsuba. The Akasaka school was founded by Tadamasa and his son who moved to Edo around the Kan'ei era. This tsuba features a round shape, iron base, openwork carving, and round ears.
Certificate reading — 無銘(赤坂)
mei · early Edo (c. 1620)

















Akasaka School
early Edo (c. 1620)
Signed
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba · Edo
76 pieces on the market now
The Akasaka school comprises a lineage of iron tsubako (鐔工) who relocated from Kyoto to the Akasaka district of Edo at the beginning of the Edo period, thereafter flourishing until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The founding master, Shozaemon Tadamasa (忠正), is traditionally held to have been active from the Kan'ei to Meireki eras (1624--1658); a genealogical statement (yui-shogaki) submitted during the Bunsei era records that shodai Tadamasa died in Meireki 3 (1657) and nidai Tadamasa in Enpo 5 (1677). Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Tadamasa忠正 | 1624-1658 | 7 |
| Tadashige忠重 | 1730-1816 | 5 |
| Tadatoki忠時 | 1704-1764 | 0 |
| Juchiku/Toshitake寿竹 | — | 0 |
| Tadanori忠則 | 1730-1780 | 0 |
A Hozon-certified fitting of notably superior craftsmanship and condition, often with signature or workmanship of high reference value.
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 siteReturns/exchanges/cancellations not accepted after shipment except for significant defects; if defective, return/exchange possible within 3 days of arrival (return shipping paid by customer).
