Antique Japanese Sword Daisho signed by 4th-gen Tadayoshi and Toshinaga with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon& Hozon Certificate
【Description】
Katana
This blade was signed by Hizen Koku Jyu Ōmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadayoshi (肥前国住近江大掾藤原忠吉). The maker’s name Tadayoshi lasted nine generations during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Hizen province (today’s Saga prefecture), and this blade was forged by 4th-gen Tadayoshi, who was active during the Genroku era (1688-1704: Mid Edo period).
The fourth-generation Tadayoshi was born in the 8th year of the Kanbun era (1667) as the son of the third-gen Tadayoshi, also known as Mutsu no Kami Tadayoshi. The fourth gen’s birth name was Hashimoto Gensuke. He learned most of the sword-forging techniques from the second-gen Tadahiro, his grandfather because his father died in the third year of Jokyo (1686) when Tadayoshi was just 19 years old. The 4th gen Tadayoshi mastered excellent craftsmanship from his grandfather until the grandfather died in the 6th year of the Genroku era (1693).
It is said that the 4th-gen Tadayoshi often did a Daisaku for his grandfather, the second-gen Tadahiro. Daisaku is a regular act where an apprentice or a child of the swordsmith signs his master’s name with his master’s permission or forges a blade on behalf of the master. That means that his master highly acknowledged Sadakuni’s craftsmanship. Considering the fact that the 4th-gen Tadayoshi did Daisaku for the second-gen Tadahiro, they must have had a very close relationship and trusted each other. The fourth-gen Tadayoshi received the honorable official title of Omi Daijo in the 13th year of the Genroku era (1700). He kept forging superb quality blades until he died at 80 years old.
The First Generation Tadayoshi
The first-gen Tadayoshi was born and raised in the Saga domain. In 1596, under the domain’s order, he went to Kyoto to learn the sword-forging technique from Umetada Myojyu (埋忠明寿), one of the greatest swordsmiths in the early Edo period. He improved his craftsmanship and returned to the Saga domain two years later (1598). The first head of the Nabeshima clan, Nabeshima Katsushige, appreciated the work of the first-gen Tadayoshi very much. Then, Katsushige appointed him as his Okakaekaji, a swordsmith who exclusively forged swords for a specific domain or clan. And Tadayoshi started to stay near Saga castle, which is the headquarter of the Nabeshima clan. And, he founded Hizen Tadayoshi school, which trained more than 100 swordsmiths during the Edo period. The generation of Tadayoshi served Nabeshima clan by the end of the Edo period.
Hizen Province
The swordsmiths in the Hizen province worked under the auspices of the Nabeshima clan like Tadayoshi. They could produce beautiful Jigane-patterned blades, also known as Hizen To, using and mixing carbon steel made in western countries. Hizenkoku had been flourishing by international trading. The geographic location of this domain made it possible to have easy access to western carbon steel.
Wakizashi
This blade was sigined by Mutsu no kami Fujiwara Toshinaga(陸奥守藤原歳長), who is a well-known swordsmith, active during the early Edo period (Enpo era: 1673-1681). This type of signature is called Orikaeshi Mei (折返し銘). It is often the case that the signatures were cut when adjusting the size of the blades. However, sometimes, Japanese swordsmiths folded the signature part and put it to the other side to preserve the signature. That is why the signature of this Katana looks upside down.
The sound of Toshinaga is considered good luck in Japan because it means to live long. It is said that the swords forged by him were very popular among high-classed Samurai because of his maker’s name and highly skilled artistry.
Toshinaga was born as the second son of the first-gen Toshinaga, who ran a prestigious school in Awa province(today’s Tokushima prefecture in Shikoku island). In total, there were three sons studying the sword-forging technique under the father, including Toshinaga. They eventually moved to Yamashiro Koku(today’s Kyoto) to become apprentices of Horikawa Kunihiro school, one of the most famous schools in Kyoto. Since Toshinaga moved to Kyoto, many of works were created there.
The first son and the third son signed as Toshinaga as well but received different titles. While the second son(the person who forged this blade) had Mutsu no Kami as an official title, the first son had Yamashiro no Kami, and the third son had Musashi no Kami. Kami
Later in his career, Mutsu no Kami Fujiwara Toshinaga moved to Ise province (today’s Mie Prefecture) to serve Todo clan(藤堂家). Todo Takatora(藤堂高虎) is the most famous figure in this clan, and he made a strong presence in Sengoku Jidai(Warring sate period). The Todo clan was one of the most powerful clans in that region during the early Edo period. Based on this fact, we presume Toshinaga’s sword-forging technique was superb enough to impress the influential feudal family.
He only forged swords for the Todo clan after moving to Ise province. It is hard to conclude where he forged this blade, but it should be Yamashiro(Kyoto) or Ise(Mie prefecture) based on the historical record.
What is Daisho?
Daisho is a pair of two Japanese swords Samurai carried. During the Edo period, having Daisho in public places was considered social status for Samurai. Furthermore, Samurai were required to wear them under the law back then. Daisho is written as 大=Big and 小=Small. Dai part means Katana, and Sho part means Wakizashi.
*Please keep in mind that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu on both blades. Also there is a tiny chip on the tip of the Katana blade. If you like to see the detailed condition of both , please feel free to contact us.
【Blade】
-Katana
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa): 70.0 cm (27.5 inches)
Curvature(Sori):1.8 cm (0.7 inches)
-Wakizashi
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa):48.1 cm (18.9 inches)
Curvature(Sori):1.4 cm (0.55 inches)
Hamon:
The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process
Jimon(Jihada):
visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process
-Katana
-Wakizashi
Kissaki:Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword.
Nakago:Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword.
Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged.
Koshirae:Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya (Sabbard), Tsuka (Handle), Tsuba (Handguard).
The sword mountings of this Katana and Wakizashi Koshirae are related to one motif: Paulownia (桐, Kiri).
The Kiri (桐) pattern is generally composed of three standing straight inflorescences and three leaves. The number of flowers that are blooming at each inflorescence means the ranks of this design. It is also famous that one of the most popular Samurais in Japan: Toyotomi Hideyoshi used the Kiri pattern for his family crest. According to a theory, Hideyoshi used Omodaka (沢瀉, arrowhead) pattern as his family crest. However, Oda Nobunaga, a well-known military commander in the Warring States period, permitted Hideyoshi to use Kiri design. This plant pattern was once used by the imperial family and national leaders of the time. Today, this plant pattern is used as the crest of the Japanese Government.
Gosan-no-Kiri Monyou (五三の桐文様) is a popular design that the paulownia motif is used. This pattern was once used by the imperial family and people in authority at that time. Today, it is permitted to use by ordinary households and is appreciated as their family crests. According to a tradition, Houou (鳳凰, Fenghuang, a kind of sacred beast) rests its wings at the paulownia tree; therefore, it has come to be regarded as a holy plant.
Fuchi-Kashira:A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt.
Tsuka and Menuki:Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration.
Tsuba and Habaki:Tsuba is the handguard for the Japanese Sword and Habaki is the equipment to make the blade not touch its scabbard inside. It prevents the blade from getting rusty and chipped.
Kozuka:Kozuka is a small knife stored in Kozuka Hitsu(groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword).
Saya:Saya is the scabbard for the Japanese sword.
This scabbard is covered with black lacquer. Due to its high waterproof effect, lacquer has been used since ancient times in Asia. The blade of a Japanese sword is made of iron, and moisture is the greatest enemy of iron. For the purpose of carrying the blade without degrading it, people devised a method of coating the scabbard with lacquer. To prevent not only moisture but also rain and snow from penetrating the inside of the scabbard, it was necessary to apply multiple layers of lacquer. The Nushi (塗師, lacquerers) was born precisely because advanced techniques were required to handle the complicated processes.
Also, The Nashiji Nuri (梨子地塗) technique is used for one of the Gosan-no-Kiri Monyou (五三の桐文様) designed on this Saya. It is a kind of Makie (蒔絵) method. This surface treatment method creates a rough texture by creating fine unevenness on the surface of the metal. They also come in varying degrees of gloss, including glossy, semi-gloss, and matte. According to a theory, it was invented in the Kamakura (鎌倉) period (1185-1333), and in the Edo period, various techniques were devised to color the products.
Authentication Paper:NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate for the blade and NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the Wakizashi
NBTHK,, also known as Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai (the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), is one of the oldest Japanese sword appraising organizations in modern-day Japan. They authenticated the Katana& Wakizashi blade in September 2024. They appraised the Katana blade as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken and Wakizashi as Hozon Token, blades worth preserving for Japanese society. The purchaser will receive these original certificates as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a PDF file for your record if you request. We are expecting to receive their authentication paper during March 2025.
Registration Number : Osaka 40213-40215
The Board of Education in Osaka prefecture issued a registration paper for the Katana and Wakizashi blade. It is called Jyu Token Rui Torokusho (銃刀剣類登録証). Bunkacho (The Agency for Cultural Affairs) acknowledges a Japanese sword with this paper as a work of art.
The sword needs to be traditionally hand-forged and made of Tamahagane carbon steel to be registered in the system. With this paper, its owner in Japan can legally own an authentic Japanese sword. Based on this registration number, we will apply for its export permit.
This paper will need to be returned to the board of education when the sword is being shipped abroad, but you can receive a copy of it. An English translation of this registration paper is available on request.
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【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
【Japanese Sword& Export Process】
The Japanese swords we deal with are hand-forged edged swords made in Japan. It was made from the traditional carbon steel called TAMAHAGANE(玉鋼). Samurai Museum is familiar with the proper legal procedure for an antique/ authentic Japanese sword to be exported from Japan. We have sent more than 700 Japanese swords for the past few years (~2024) to amazing owners who appreciate its historical value.
Each Japanese sword is registered under the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Board of Education in Japan. They issue a registration paper for each Japanese sword for its owner in Japan to legally possess it. The Japanese sword with its registration paper means it was traditionally hand-forged in Japan.
To legally export the sword from Japan to other countries, we will have to apply for its permit to the Agency for Cultural Affairs(Bunkacho) and return the original registration paper to the Board of Education. It normally takes around 2-4 weeks to receive this permit after submitting required documents. And we would like you to expect at least 1-1.5 months for your order to arrive at your given address after you ordered. For more detailed info, please click here.
It is allowed for residents in Japan to own authentic Japanese swords without a special license as long as they come with registration papers. Please feel free to contact us if you are a resident of Japan, whether temporarily or permanently. We will also assist you when you leave Japan and need to obtain the export permit.
【Payment Method】
We accept payment through Stripe (Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. Also, you don’t need to make an account on Stripe for the checkout. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. After confirming your payment, we will apply for an export permit. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, CAD,EUR CHF or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
* If the amount is above 1 million JPY, Stripe or wire transfer will be the only options for payment.
【Shipping】
We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany , Belgium, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Australia. If you don’t live in these countries and like to order, please contact us first before making a purchase. We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can send antique Japanese swords by EMS.
We normally ship by EMS(Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. We will send you a tracking number for your order as soon as we hand it to the post office. We will put 100 % insurance on the shipping document without any extra charge. Based on the total amount, there might be a duty tax or other fee for you to pay, depending on the countries. We use package cushioning to protect the item and put it in a PVC pipe, which is one of the most secure packages because of its durability.
It will normally takes 5-14 days for the item to arrive at your given address after we dispatch it. Time of delivery is estimated as accurately as possible by the carrier but does not take into account any delays beyond our control such as by inclement weather, post office holiday seasons.
* If you live in Australia and like to purchase an authentic Japanese sword, please click here to know the detail.
* If you live in the UK and like to purchase an authentic Japanese sword, please contact us first and click here to know the detail.
【Review】
Here is one of the reviews we received from a customer who purchased an authentic Japanese sword from us. For more reviews, please click here.
“My experience overall with the whole process was wonderful. I had many questions about the history and process to purchase these treasures. All my questions were answered very timely and complete. The staff is very knowledgeable and very well versed if any questions do arise.”
【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision. It is essential for us to know that you are happy with your choice of a sword. and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.
【How To Contact Us】
Please contact us through email, Facebook Messenger or Live Chat if you have any questions. You can find each icon on the right side of the website. Please click one of them to reach us. We will reply to you within 1-2 business days.
【The Art of Nihonto (Japanese Sword)】
Samurai’s history is a profound, eloquent legacy of ancient Japanese warriors in which millions of people worldwide are being fascinated. If you like to find out the art of Nihonto, please click here.
【A Guide to Japanese Sword Maintenance】
After acquiring an genuine Japanese sword, it is also important to know how to take good care of it. Here is the special video for you. Mr. Paul Martin, Japanese sword expert, shows you how to give proper maintenance to your sword. By mastering how to clean the Japanese sword, its aesthetic beauty will last forever.
When you purchase a Japanese sword from us, you can get a Free Japanese sword maintenance kit. It comes with four tools(Choji Oil, Uchiko Whetstone Powder, Peg remover, Oil Applicator). By watching the video instruction above , you can enjoy learning how to maintain your Japanese sword while appreciating it. If you have any difficulty assembling the sword or cleaning the blade, you can feel free to contact us.
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