Japanese Swords & Asian Arts

Nihonto Tanto collection

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-1

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai DaiSho.

A beautiful DaiSho with very nice classic red lacquer Koshirae in very good condition, both blades in good Japanese polish and ShiraSaya with Tsunagi (wood copy of the sword itself).
The Katana (Dai) is signed: Soshu Jyu Tachibana Enryushi Fujiwara KUNIHIDE Zou , from the ShinShinto period, (ca. 1834/1859). The blade has NTHK Toso certificate, has 10 points in the Hawley ( kun116 ) and made Wazamono sharp swords.
Kunihide was a student of Nakayama Ikkansai Yoshihiro, they worked for the Itakura family and later for the Annaka clan. At the same time, Ryoma Sakamoto was introduced to Edo Beichen Itto-Ryu Sadakichi Chiba Dojo where swords were forged and tested together. There are not many swords in circulation from Kunihide as he worked at the end of the Samurai era and certainly had to give up his profession as a swordsmith. The sword has an elegant Hira-zukuri shape with a Bo-Hi. You rarely come across such a long Hira-zukuri blade. The Hamon is a Gunome Midare Hamon with Sunagashi and Kinsuji and Ara-Nie. The Katana is Ubu (not shortened) with 1 mekugi-ana and has no forging flaws.

The Wakizashi (Sho) is unsigned from the ShinShinto period (ca.1800-1850). from YAMAURA from the Musashi province who was active around 1836 according to the Hawley and he is a 50 point swordsmith (YAM 2). The blade is in a good polish is Ubu (not shortened) with 1 Mekugi-ana and no forging flaws. The Wakizashi also has a Bo-Hi and a Gunome Notare Hamon with Nioi and Nie. The Jihada is Itame Mokume Hada. Very few blades are known of this swordsmith, probably because he changed his name 3 times in his life and signed accordingly.

The Koshirae have been restored with dark red lacquered Sayas with high-quality sword fittings, the Saya's have beautiful classic dark red lacquer and finished with buffalo horn parts, and the tsuka's are wrapped with black leather Tsuka-Ito. The Tsuba's, F&K, Kozuka and Kogai are a beautifully made classic Kiri Mon version in Shakudo with gold-plated Kiri-mons. The Ko-katana was made in the Gendai period. The Habaki's are both made of solid silver.

This is a very nice DaiSho in the classic Samurai version with good blades and very nice Koshirae.

Price € 16.200,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-2

This is an authentic Japanese Wakizashi Nihonto Samurai sword.

A very fine signed Shinto Wakizashi, signed: Sashu Ju MASATSUGU (c. 1764) from Satsuma Province, with beautiful old Edo period Koshirae from a private collection.
This sword was purchased long ago in England (UK, London) and has a very special inscription or engraving in the Fuchi: from H.A. Xmas 1890. And on the reverse side, the initials H.A. again.
This means that an Englishman visited Japan in the late 1800s, at that time still by steamship and almost certainly as a businessman, and bought this Wakizashi there and brought it back to the UK as a souvenir, had it engraved with Gothic letters there, and gave it as a Christmas gift to one of his loved ones.

Sashu no ju Masatsugu (or Masatsugu of Sashu) was a Japanese sword maker or school associated with the Sashu region (also known as Satsuma province) during the Edo period. Connection to Sashu/Satsuma: “Sashu” is an abbreviation for Satsuma province. Masatsugu is a Jyo-saku sword maker in the rankings and made Wazamono sharp swords. In the Hawley, he has 15 points (MAS 1175). There have been quite a number of smiths with the name Masatsugu, but only 11 from Satsuma province.

This Wakizashi is Ubu, comes from a private collection, and has been in a collection in the Netherlands for a long time; the blade is Ubu, not shortened with 2 Mekugi-ana, signed; the Habaki is very fine solid silver or silver-plated. The blade is well polished and has no forging defects. The hamon is Gunome with Nie. The Jihada is a well-made, uniform Ko-Itame with Jinie.

The koshirae is of very good quality as a Handachi version, entirely in silver. The Saya is sprinkled with black Urushi lacquer with ground beetle shells; the Tsuka is wrapped with dark blue Ito ribbon. The Menuki are depicted as Shishi temple hounds with gold highlights. The Fuchi and Kashira are made of silver with the engraving. The Tsuba is made of Shakudo with a silver rim; all sword fittings are of good quality and condition. The Wakizashi has a silver Kozuka with a wave design and a Ko-katana.

A beautiful blade with a very beautiful and special Koshirae with a history.

Price: Euro 3690.-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-3

This is an Antique Japanese Samurai sword.
A special DaiSho with very nice Koshirae in good old used condition, both blades in very good Japanese polishing.

The Katana (Dai) is Mumei - unsigned, attributed to Mino Senjuin School, NAGAHIRO by the NBTHK Hozon papers, from the Koto period, late Muromachi (about 1550/1570). The blade is very elegant with a Chu-kissaki. The Hamon is a Gunome Midare Hamon with Ko-Nie Deki with Sunagashi and Kinsuji in Hakikake style.
The Jihada is a beautiful active Itame with also Masame and Jinie, Shirake Utsuri can also be seen. The Katana is Machi-Okuri with 3 mekugi-ana. The birth name of NAGAHIRO was FUJITA KANEWARE, and his swords belong to the Jyo-saku ranking.
The Mino Senjuin school started in the Nanbokucho period (1333) until the late Muromachi period (1572). In the early Nanbokucho era the swordsmiths of the Nara province went to the Mino province and there was a mix of Mino and Senjuin influences in which the Mino-Senjuin swords arose.

The Wakizashi (Sho) is signed, Tanba No Kami YOSHIMICHI (Mishina school) (Kyo, 6th generation) late Edo period (ca. 1800) and has HBTHK Hozon papers. The blade is in a very good polish is Ubu with 1 Mekugi-ana and has a Kikumon engraved.
The Hamon is a Niedeki Gunome Midare Hamon. The Jihada is well made and vividly forged Ko-Itame in the Yamashiro style with Ji-nie, with a Chu-kissaki and completely faultless.
In contrast to the earlier Yoshimichi smiths that invented the famous Soshu-den Sudare-ba hamon this blade is in Gunome Midare. Yoshimichi got the title Tamba No Kami and was allowed to engrave the Kikumon in his swords.

The Koshirae are with good quality fittings, the Saya's are very special made in a kind of diamond shape (Roiro Kawarinuri) which is very rare. The Tsuba’s are modeled mount Fuji images on the edge of the tsuba. The F&K, Kozuka and Kogai are Shakudo with dragon motifs in good quality, the Menuki are gold gilded dragons, a wind and water dragon on the wakizashi and katana. The Habaki's are a 2-part one, the wakizashi , and the katana with silver wrapped.

This is an excellent DaiSho with good blades, both with Hozon papers and special ensuite Koshirae

Price Euro 15.900,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-4

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese DaiSho samurai swordset.

The KATANA / Dai ;
A Shinogi-zukuri Katana, made in the early Edo period (ca. 1600-1624), Attributed to: Oite Nanki SHIGEKUNI from the Kii / Monju Province, Yamato school ,with NBTHK hozon papers.

Shigekuni (birth name Monju Kuró emon) belonged to the Monju clan of the Yamato Tegai School and was highly ranked as a Saij-Jyo Saku (highest) smith and made Ryowaza mono (very sharp) swords. He settled in Fuchu in Suruga-no-kuni during the Keicho era (1596-1614) and served Tokugawa Ieyasu as one of his swordmakers along with Shodai Yasutsugu and other famous smiths. After Ieyasu died in the second year of Genna (1616), Shigekuni followed the tenth son of Ieyasu, Yorinobu, to Wakayama in Kishu prov. , where Yorinobu founded the Kishu Tokugawa family who became one of the three most important Tokugawa families.
Shigekuni is seen as one of the best swordsmiths from the Shinto era. In terms of skills, Shigekuni and Horikawa Kunihiro belong to the top of all Keicho Shinto smiths. He was a Saijyo Saku smith. (115 points Hawley). His power in producing clear and clear ji and ha was unrivaled among his contemporaries. Shigekuni was known for making long swords and, unfortunately, many have been shortened in later times. We are lucky that Shodai Nanki Shigekuni has left many examples with his personal history, recorded in his signature about where he lived at different times in his life as a sword maker. We find examples such as WASHU TEGAI no JU SHIGEKUNI SUNPU ni OITE KORE.
The sword characteristics of Shigekuni can be divided into two main streams. His background is the Yamato School and he has made many of his swords with classical Yamato characteristics. Because this was the basis of his training for making swords, we see that most of his swords have these classic Yamato characteristics. These works are characterized by suguha hamon such as this Katana, and also ko-midare or gunome, and with a hakikake-decorated boshi that in most cases stops in yakitsume finish without kaeri. Even the few examples where the boshi has a kaeri, the length of the kaeri is very short. The swords of Shigekuni, done in the Yamato tradition, have a striking resemblance at a glance to the works of Yamato Kanenaga and also Shikkake Norinaga.
The other trend in his style was the Soshu school with Masamune and Sadamune as an example. It is a very powerful blade with Bo-Hi and a lot of activity and beautiful Masame/ko-Itame forgingpattern.

The blade has 3 Mekugi ana and is Sureage ( shortened) and unsigned, the Hamon is Suguha with Nie. The Katana has no Kizu or Ware and no forging errors.

The WAKIZASHI / Sho ;
This blade is signed by Hizen Koku Tadayoshi. The maker's name Tadayoshi lasted 10 generations during the Edo period. According to its NBTHK's Hozon certificate, it was made by the 8th- gen Tadayoshi during the Tenpo era (1830-1844). Among other generations of Tadayoshi, the eighth-gen was a renowned figure and mastered a high level of craftsmanship passed down from the previous generations. The 8th generation Hashimoto Shinzaiemon Tadayoshi and is called Ko-dai Tadayoshi. He is the most expert of Hizen sword. All the generations of Tadayoshi served Nabeshima clan, which controlled Saga domain. The 8th-gen Tadayoshi was born as the son of Furukawa family in Saga domain in 1801. He was eventually adopted by the 7th-gen Tadayoshi, and he changed his name to Hashimoto Shinzaemon . He took over Tadayoshi school from the 7th-gen in the 13th year of the Bunka period (1816). The domain acknowledged his skill, and he played a vital role in modernizing the weaponry of Saga domain. In 1850, he was in charge of making a cannon for the domain because of his refined swordsmithing. He died at 59 in the 6th year of the Ansei period (1859). The swordsmiths in the Hizen province worked under the auspices of the Nabeshima clan like Tadayoshi. They produce beautiful blades with Konuka Hada with the blue steel gloss. This Hada is one of the most well-known characteristics of the blades produced in Hizen province. Tadayoshi 8e gen. has 20 points at the Hawley.

THE KOSHIRAE ;
the DaiSho Koshirae is in excellent condition, the tsuka's with white Tsuka-Ito are wrapped with Menuki in Shakudo with gold as an image of flowers and a butterfly. The Fuchi is from the Mino school in Shakudo with gold and floral image, The Kashira is buffalo horn. The Tsuba's are iron with a gilded edge and images of peonies in silver and butterflies. The Saya's are painted with gold paint in very fine details with flowers and insects in super good quality and condition. Price; € 29.750,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-5

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.
A special DaiSho with very nice Koshirae in good old used condition, both blades in very good Japanese polishing.
The Katana (Dai) is signed, with NBTHK Hozon papers, from the late Shinto period (ca. 1764), with the Kiku-mon, signed: Sashu Jyu (Orikaeshi) KIYOKATA. The blade is very elegant with a Chu kissaki. The Hamon is a Gunome Midare Hamon with Ko-Nie Deki with Sunagashi and Kinsuji in Hakikake style.
The Jihada is a nice lively even typical Satsuma Ko-Itame with Jinie. The Katana is Machi-Okuri with 2 mekugi-ana where the signature has been preserved by cutting it out and folding it on the other side of the nakago so that the entire signature is preserved.
KIYOKATA lived in the Satsuma province, and his swords belong to the Jyo-saku smiths and are Wazamono sharp. This katana has a Bo-hi and on the other side a double Su-hi which gives the blade a nice look. smiths from the Satsuma province were already active in the Koto era until the Meiji restoration in 1876. i.a. there were the famous smiths like; Masafusa, Masakiyo, Yasuchika and Yasukuni, mostly the examples were taken from the Shosu tradition as this katana is also made. Apparently KIYOKATA has been given the lofty position of being allowed to engrave the Imperial Kiku-mon on its blades, which was quite a privilege and emphasized his quality of forging.
The Wakizashi (Sho) is unsigned, (Mumei) and given the style and the Jihada in the direction of the Aoe school from the Koto Edo period (ca. 1480/1520). The blade is in good polishing with 1 Mekugi-ana and shortened (sureage).v The Hamon is a Niedeki with a low Gunome Midare Hamon. The Jihada is well and very lively forged Mokume that can be clearly seen. The Koshirae are with very high quality fittings, the Sayas are dark green with a kind of tree bark effect, the katana has a Shakudo Kogai and the Wakizashi has a Shakudo Kozuka/Ko-katana. The Tsubas with the sun rising over the sea are like images with gold inlaid drops. The F&K, Kojiri, Shibabiki, Kozuka and Kogai are Shakudo with plant motif in super good quality, the Menuki are parts of the samurai, including a Tenpo rifle, arrowheads and quiver in Shakudo. The Kurigata are made of buffalo horn. The Habaki are a 2-piece with a gilded foil wrapped. In the Kojiri is a Mon or family crest of the Horikawa or the Matsuno family or Clan (the mon is the blooming Gentian).

This is an excellent DaiSho with good blades, the katana has a Hozon certificate and special ensuite Edo period Dai-Sho Koshirae.

Price € 19.500,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-6

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese DaiSho samurai sword set.

A special DaiSho with both signed blades from the Yokoyama school, with museum-worthy Edo period Koshirae of super quality and condition, both blades in good Japanese polish. The wakizashi belongs to SUKENAGA, the master, and the katana belongs to SUKENORI, later student. The Katana (Dai) signed and dated: Bizen Osafune YOKOYAMA SUKENORI, Dated ; Tomonari Go Ju Roku Daimago (56th generation of Tomonari) of the Yokoyama school from the ShinShinto period, (ca. 1865). with NBTHK Hozon certificate and receives 10 points in the Hawley (SUK 733). I personaly think that the rating is under his real skills, because we do not see much works to get a real indication. It is classified as O-Wazamono (very sharp) and Jo-Saku swords. The Yokoyama school studied and made swords in the old Koto Bizen tradition, which all smiths associated with that school were familiar with, but you also come across Suguha Hamon forged swords, usually made on behalf of the Samurai. This katana has 1 Mekugi-ana and is Ubu (original length and signature) with a very good polish without forging defects. The Hamon is a typical Choji-Midare Hamon that is very similar to the beautiful Torano-ba Hamon of the Kato school, also from the late Shinshinto period. Not many Sukenori swords are known because he was active at the end of the Samurai Era (end of the Samurai Era 1876).

The Wakizashi (Sho) is signed; YOKOYAMA Kaganosuke Fujiwara SUKENAGA with KIKU-MON and the Ichi sign (number 1). And dated ; Ten-po 13 Ichi Biyo Osafune Go (ca. 1830-1855) as 56th Generation of Tomonari, with NBTHK HOZON certificate. The wakizashi has 1 mekugi-ana, is Ubu (not shortened and fully signed) with a nice polish and no forging errors. The Jihada here is also an even and calm Itame Hada forging pattern. Sukenaga gets 60 points in the Hawley (SUK 756) Is a Jo-Sake and O-Wazamono class swordsmith)
Yokoyama Kagasuke Fujiwara Sukenaga is a sword maker who studied a full-fledged Choji Midare Hamon. He learned his technique from Yokoyama Sukekane and Sukehira.
The Nioikuchi is a sleek and beautiful Hamon. The characteristic Hamon technique also occurs in these Yokoyama blacksmiths, as; Sukenao, Suketaka, Sukeyoshi, Sukekane, Sukeharu, and Sukenori.
Yokoyama Kaga Suke Fujiwara Sukenaga was a second son of Sukehira. His brother Sukenori was adopted by the Sukesada family. He also succeeds his father Sukehira. He was called “Tomonari's 56th grandson”. There are many other Yokoyama smiths who used “Tomonari's 56th grandson” in the signature. He died on June 2, Kaei 4th at the age of 57.

The Koshirae are Museum worthy and in super condition and provided with NBTHK TOKUBETSU-HOZON certificate, (katana Saya signed; JOKASAI) with the classic theme in Japan with the Sakura blossom in gold and silver lacquer. Tsuka-Ito is a very beautiful single wire black Tsuka winding in super condition with beautiful Same ray skin. The lacquered Sayas have a black Urushi lacquer as a base with a kind of tree bark motif with Buffalo horn Kurigata parts and a ko-katana and kozuka on the Wakizashi, with Shakudo and gold-plated Dragon motif. The F&K are Shakudo cherry blossom styled and signed: TAKASE YOSHITOSHI with KAO, of super good quality, the Menuki of Shakudo as a dragon motif, the Kozuka is Shakudo with Dragon with gold high-lights. The Ko-katana is signed and has a beautiful Hamon. The Tsubas are made of iron with the Sakura cherry blossom representation in gold hight-lights of super quality and signed; Gohu Ju Masahisa Saku. The Habakis are in 2-piece design and gold-plated in super condition. This is a very special DaiSho with very good blades and very beautiful Koshirae. Price; € 37.000,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-7

This is an authentic Nihonto old antique Japanese Samurai sword.

An unsigned ( Mumei ) Shinto period ( ca. 1655-1675 ) Katana in a good polish with Sword description by Mr. Han Bing Siong at that time chairman of the Dutch Token Association. Attributed to the ISHIDO school of the Kii province in a very nice Koshirae mount. This katana is elegant with a very lively Jihada and very wild Choji hamon with Ashi and Sunagashi and Utsuri. This sword has been in a Dutch collection for a long time, and was submitted for the sword description in 2004.

The Ishidô school originated in the Sekido temple in the province of Ômi around the Kanei period (1624). From there the smiths went to different parts of the country to establish Ishidô schools. Some went to the province of Kii and became known as the Kishû Ishidô. Later Tameyasu led this group to Ôsaka. Other smiths went to Edo, the most famous of whom was Ishidô Korekazu. Mitsuhira was one of Ishidô Korekazu's students. The smiths of the Ishidô school were particularly noted for their ability to make swords in the Bizen tradition of the Ichimonji school of which this sword is a good example. They were known for their hamon, a robust chôji midare that sometimes reached the shinogi. Occasionally you will find a sword with a prominent suguha (straight) temper. This would usually indicate that it was a specially commissioned sword. Their work often had fine utsuri and the best works are often mistaken for genuine Ichimonji works. One distinguishing feature that differs from the Ichimonji school is that the hada in the shinogi ji is masame, while in the Ichimonji school of the Koto period it would be itame. Another difference is that in Ichimonji swords the prominent midare patterns would retain their exuberance in the bôshi, while the bôshi of the Ishidô school tend to have a quieter and shallower midare pattern. Mitsuhira is now considered the older brother of Tsunemitsu. He worked around the mid-17th century. His family name was Heki. He was given the title Dewa no Kami and later became known as Dewa Nyudo. He is famous for his chôji hamon and both he and Korekazu are credited with reviving the Bizen tradition in the Shintô period. His chôji can be distinguished from those of other Ishidô smiths in that his was more of a fukuro-chôji (bag-shaped chôji). This is one of the few points that distinguishes his work from that of his brother Tsunemitsu.

This blade is Ubu (not shortened, original length), with 1 Mekugi-ana and has no forging errors or damage. (photo 16 shows the forging structure that is a bit coarser at the beginning, but cannot be called a true Ware one). The katana has a nice big Choji Midare Hamon with soft Habuchi that even over the Shinogi (separation line between the sword back and cutting part), Ashi, Yakidashi, Muneyaki and Yo in the Hamon, this sword also has a lot of Muneyaki (hardened back of the sword) the Jihada is a very nice Mokume-Itame with Jinie and some Ara-Nie and UTSURI as forging pattern. The Habaki is a 2-piece version. The Koshirae is a beautiful Japanese Mapple leaf stamped in the lacquer and of very good quality made in black Urushi lacquer with a Kojiri at the end of the Saya in Shakudo with waves and water drops inlaid in gold. The Tsuka has Shakudo dragons as Menuki and is provided with a good black Ito winding of which the Fuchi and Kashira also from Shakudo with dragons in the waves and gold highlights in relief. The Tsuba is made of iron with here also a dragon and signed MASATSUNE of excellent quality.

A particularly well forged blade of the ISHIDO school as an Ishimonji example with a very beautiful koshirae in good condition.

Price Euro 7.100,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-8

This is an authentic Japanese Wakizashi Nihonto Samurai sword.

A signed and dated ShinShinto Wakizashi, with HBTHK Hozon paper, signed: Bingo Fukuyama Jyu YOKOYAMA SUKENARI saku (Kaei 6-nen 2-Gatsubi / 1853) the 56th Generation of Tomonari , with beautiful Koshirae and ancient ShiraSaya.
SUKENARI who belonged to the Bizen Osafune tradition from 1839-1858, at the end of the Edo period when 1876 the samurai era finally ended. In the 8th month of Tensho 19 (1591), a flood hit Fukuoka-sho, Bizen Osafune area due to a local downpour, most of the sword workshops were swept away by the flood and the Yokoyama SUKESADA workshop was no exception.
One of the founders Yokoyama Souzaemon SUKESADA reconstructed the SUKESADA workshop in the Shinto period together with his brothers Shichibei-no-jo SUKESADA and Genzaemon-no-jo. Those three SUKESADA brothers prospered again with their sword production during the Edo period.

The swordsmith SUKENARI belonged to Yokoyama Kozuke-daijo SUKESADA school who is a legitimate child of Shichibei-no-jo SUKESADA (the 6th generation of founder Yoso-zaemon-no-jo SUKESADA) and was a student of SUKEKANE. He publicly identified himself as the 56 descendant of Tomonari from the Kamakura period from the 12th century, such as this example as Wakizashi and His Extant Works, known with the date of the year range from Tenpo to Kaei (1839-Ca 1853) at the end of the Edo period. Belonging to the Bizen-den technique, he devoted himself to restoring the ancient works of the legendary ancient swordsmith AMAKUNI Taiho (Ca. 701).
He was also hired to serve for the Fukuyama domain (at the end of his life, this Wakizashi is also signed with Fukuyama and is one of his later works) to meet the increasing demand for swords against problems of foreign unrest among repeated visits from envoys from the outside world to open the country's gates to the world.
Most smiths of the Yokoyama school belong to the Jyo-Saku class and often made Wazamon sharp swords.
Their swords are often striking with the Choji Midare as far as the Hamon is concerned, but also have a very nice subdued Itame jihada. This Wakizashi is Ubu, not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana, the Habaki is made of copper. The Blade is well polished and has no forging flaws, The hamon is Choji Midare/Gunome with Nie. The Jihada is a well-crafted Ko-Itame with Jinie.
The koshirae is of good quality, the Saya is with black Urushi lacquer, the Tsuka is wrapped with Obergine/very dark red color Ito Bandage. The Menuki are made of brass with a samurai/person representation. The Fuchi is Shakudo with Nanako and Samurai/person representation in gold highlights. The Kashira is made from Buffalo-horn The Tsuba is made of iron with an Oki and an Oni that chases it away during the New Year with gold highlights, all sword fittings are of very good quality and condition.
The Wakizashi has an iron Kozuka with Ko-katana, the Kozuka also has the new year representation with the garlands.

A blade of a special swordsmith that one rarely encounters with a beautiful Koshirae.

Price ; € 3350,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-9

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.

A very nice signed and dated ShinShinto Wakizashi, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate, signed: Ikeda KAZUHIDE Nyudo Ryuken. And dated: Bunsei 7 nen 8 gatsu-hi (August 1824) from the Dewa Province , with very nice Koshirae and ShiraSaya with Tsunagi (wooden copy of the sword).

Kazuhide made his swords mostly with Muji-Hada ( pattern of dense forging ) and Suguha Hamon ( straight hardening line ), this Wakizashi has a wild exuberant Choji Hamon with deep Ashi. Kazuhide was born in the Akita prefecture in 1774. He studied with Suishinshi Masahide of the Masahide school, a grandmaster in the ShinShinto period with a famous school. This Wakizashi with the wild Choji Hamon looks a lot like his master Masahide, who worked in 2 streams, the quiet Yamashiro style and the more exciting Bizen tradition with the Choji Hamon. Later Kazuhide was hired by the SAKAI Clan of Shonai to supply swords for the Clan and their men. He made Wazamono sharp swords and is classified in the ChuJyo-saku class smiths (excellent class). He has a 10 point rating in the Hawley. He died in May 1841 at the age of 69.

This Wakizashi is Ubu, not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana, signed and dated, the Habaki is very nice 2-piece with a gold foil wrapped around it. The blade is well polished and has no forging flaws, the blade has a Su-Hi (double groove) on the Omote side and a Bo-hi with Bonji character engraved on the Ura side. The hamon is Choji with deep Ashi. The Jihada is a well made Ko-Itame with Jinie.

The koshirae is of very good quality with a complete dragon theme, one of the mythical creatures from Japanese history, The Saya is with black Urushi lacquer, the Tsuka is with Obergine in color with one-thread luxury Ito band wrapped. The Menuki are from Shakudo, dragons with gold highlights. The Fuchi and Kashira are from Shakudo with Nanako as Dragon motif. The Tsuba is also from Shakudo with Nanako and Dragon motif with splashing water drops in gold highlights, all sword fittings are of very good quality and condition. The Wakizashi has a Shakudo with Nanako Kozuka with Ko-katana, the Ko-katana also has a dragon representation engraved.

A beautiful healthy blade from a special smith who is rarely found with a very beautiful complete Koshirae.

Price ; Euro 7750,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-10

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai Dai-sho sword set.
A special DaiSho with very nice original Edo period ensuite Koshirae in super condition, both blades in very good polish.
The Katana is Mumei - unsigned, from the ShinShinto period (ca. 1840-1860). This sword has an Aoi-Mon engraved on it and can be seen as a tachi. This blade can be attributed to the Echizen YASUTSUGU school as YAMATO DEN. The blade is very elegant with a Chu-kissaki. The Hamon is a Suguha Hamon with ko-Nie and Kinsuji. The Jihada is a nice lively even Masame and Itame. The Katana is Ubu with 1 mekugi-ana. The sword has an elegant sori and the beautiful fumbari and no flaws. The YAMATO is 1 of the 5 Goka-den (5 schools from the Koto period) and originated in the early Heian period (ca. 710-1185). Their swords were elegant and modest, but therefore also fragile, which Japan noticed during the two Mongolian raids, but also very sharp ( Wazamono ) and loved for their cutting quality by the warrior monks of that period.

The Wakizashi is also unsigned, so mumei and somewhat shortened, with an NBTHK Hozon certificate and attributed to YOKOYAMA SUKETADA, Shinshinto period (ca. 1850 -1860). Suketada was a student of SUKEKANE and they made the swords in the Bizen Den style with Choji-Midare/Gunome Hamon. The Hamon is a Choji Gunome Hamon in Nioi-deki and Ashi. The blade is in a very good polish and has 1 Mekugi-ana, the Jihada is well and lively forged Itame with Ji-nie, with a Chu-kissaki and completely flawless. The Yokoyama school of smiths also made wazamono sharp swords and were classified in the Chu-Ju Saku class.

The Koshirae is original from the Edo period (ca. 1780/1800) and in excellent condition, not restored with very good quality fittings from Shakudo, with NBTHK Hozon toso green paper certificate. The Tsuba's and the Fuchi-Kashira are signed by TERUHIDE with kao of the OMORI school. (ca. 1780/1800) the Saya's are in the base with black lacquer with clouds / circles of gold-coloured/orange infill. The Tsuba's and the F&K, Kojiri and Kurigata super quality are like the Omori school with waves and water drops in gold. The Menuki are shakudo with rabbit or hare image. The Kozuka is iron with water and birds in gold high-light. Both Tsuka's have black silk wrapping and beautiful old patina and very nice old Same/ray skin. Both Habaki's are gold foiled/plated.

This is an excellent DaiSho with very good blades and excellent Koshirae.

Price Euro 19.500,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-11

This is an authentic Japanese Nihonto Samurai sword.

A Shinogizukuri Wakizashi from the Shinto period, Kanbun Shinto ca. 1640-1650 signed Yamato no Kami YOSHIMICHI with NBTHK Hozon papers mounted in a perfect Koshirae.
Yamato no kami Yoshimichi was the second son of Osaka Tamba no kami Yoshimichi, named Mishina Uzaemon, and was active mainly from Joo (1652-1655) to Manji (1658-1661). The second generation around Enpo (1673-1681) was called Shirobei and later Den’emon, who also lived in Himeji, Banshu, and was therefore also known as Himeji Yamato. This sword is considered the work of Yamato no kami Yoshimichi I Gen, as it has a style with a “Choji” in the gunome hamon.
Yoshimichi gets 70 points (YOS 388) in the Hawley and has the title No Kami.
Yoshimichi is a Jyo-Jyo Saku swordsmith and made Wazamono sharp swords, he was the 2nd son of Osaka Yoshimitchi. The sword has a graceful shape and an O-Kissaki.
This is an elegant blade from the Yamato province and is flawless in super polish with 1 Mekugi-ana and Ubu, The Hamon is Gunome Midare and Choji Midare with Ashi & Nie. The Jihada is a dense Ko-Itame Hada with Jinie.
The Koshirae is in very good condition and very high quality, the Habaki is 2 parts and wrapped in silver foil.
The Saya has a dark green / black cloudy lacquer, the Tsuba is Shakudo with very fine Nanako and gold-plated edge, the F&K and Menuki are Mon images in Shakudo with gold. The Kozuka is Shakudo with Nanako and gilded Samurai warriors.
A perfect flawless blade and beautiful high-quality Koshirae in perfect condition, completely ensuite.

Price: € 8450,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-12

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese DaiSho samurai sword set.

A great DaiSho with Koto period blades, with Edo period Koshirae of very good quality and condition, both blades in good polish. The Katana is Mumei (not signed) and Sureage (shortened) with NBTHK Hozon certificate, attributed to the TAKADA SCHOOL (ca. 1500-1540).

This daisho has been submitted to the NBTHK as a Daisho for certification, both certificates have the date of issue 05-2023-09 with consecutive numbering; 3033165 and 3033166. Swords in a very nice mount and with new ShiraSaya with Tsunagi (wood copy sword).

The katana (Dai) is made in the style of the Nanbokucho period as Nagamaki naoshi with a sloping Mune (back of the sword), so the typical diamond shape, a large robust blade with an O-Kissaki (large point). Bungo and/or Taira Takada school made their swords in the city of Takada during the Edo period. In the 15th and 16th century many swords were made by this school, for the Samurai of Kyushu island for the Otomo clan, among others, the swords have much in common with the swords of the Mino and Bizen swords. In its entirety many swords were produced on Kyushu island because many Daimyo and Shogun were at war with each other there. The Takada school used a high quality iron sand with carbon (which they had available on Kyushu) for their blades which ensured a very high quality. The Katana is shortened, has a good polish and no forging errors or Kizu with a small Hi at the beginning of the blade. The Hamon is Suguha / Midare with Nie, the Jihada is Itame with Mokume and Utsuri, the sword has 2 Mekugi-ana.

The Wakizashi (Sho) is signed; KUNIKUMA as 2 character signature of the SATSUMA province, late Muromachi period ( ca. 1550-1570 ) KAGOSHIMA in KYUSYU with NBTHK HOZON certificate. The wakizashi is Nagamaki Naoshi model made with the Bo-Hi and narrow Mune, has 1 mekugi-ana , is Ubu ( not shortened and signed ) with a good polish and no forging errors or Kizu. The Jihada is a smooth and quiet Itame Hada forging pattern. The Hamon is Gunome/Midare with Nie and Jinie. Very little is known about this smith, he worked in the southernmost part of Kyusyu in Satsuma.

The Koshirae are in super condition with the AOI -MON on the saya. The Tsuka-Ito is a very nice white winding in super condition with nice Same ray skin. The lacquered Saya’s have a black Urushi lacquer as a base with gold lacquer Aoi Mons and both saya’s have a Shakudo Kojiri with gold inlaid TOMONARI Mon. The Wakizashi has a signed Ko-katana with Kozuka in Shakudo with gold dragon. The F&K are Shakudo with very fine Nanako with flowers in gold and Shakudo of super good quality, the Menuki of Shakudo as rooster and bird motif. The Tsuba's are openworked from Shakudo with very fine Nanako with plant/flower representation with golden dragon representation on the edge in super condition and super quality. The Habaki of the Wakizashi is in 2-piece version, the katana a single version, both covered with a gold foil, as well as the Seppa’s.

This is a very special DaiSho with very good blades and very beautiful Koshirae with new ShiraSaya.

Price; € 16,950,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-13

This is an authentic Japanese samurai sword.

An unsigned Koto period Katana with a good polishing with Super Koshirae in gold Nishi lacquer.

I think this katana is Muromachi period (about 1500) the blade is O-suriage, so shortened with 3 Mekugi-ana. The katana is equipped with a deep Bo-hi.

In a first glance it looks like an Echizen school blade, but because there are no papers, the judgment can also be different. The sword is in good polishing and has a narrow shallow Kizu right in front of the Habaki.

The hamon is a Gunome Midare in Nie with Sunagasi and Kinsui, the Jihada is a Ko-Itame. The Habaki is wrapped in thick gold foil with the Japanese rising sun as its motive.

The Koshirae is of very special quality with fish and other sea animals in thick applied Nishi gold lacquer with many details. This mount is from the middle Edo period (1700/1750) and despite the age is still a very good condition. Not 1 cm of the Saya is the same, the many motifs makes the Saya very decorative. All sword fitting pieces are gold gilded and from the maker Moritomo Shige-Aki. The Fuchi-Kashira are signed with a Kao.

The Tsuka is with a luxurious single-wire black winding, with shells like Menuki. The Tsuba has a gold gilded rim and also sea animals and shells as motif.

The whole piece is very special and very high quality which you hardly can find in this exceptional mountings.

Price Euro 16.500, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-14

This is an Antique Japanese Samurai sword.
This Mumei Katana is attributed to; Koyama Munehira, also called SOUBEI in Japanese or SOKAN from the Shin Shinto Bunka period (ca. 1804), with NBTHK Hozon paper. Munehira moves to Kuwana province to make swords for the Daimyo Matsudaire, the blade is gracefull and has a nice shape with Bo-hi from the Koto period.

Munehira belongs to the Jyo-saku ranking with Wazamono sharp swords. He belongs to the famous Koyama school who made very good swords. The blade has much more activity then my pictures can show you, it is very very active.
Munehira initially forged blades in Shirakawa domain and was the older brother from Koyama Munetsugu , located in Mutsu province (today's Fukushima prefecture), and served Shirakawa Matsudaira clan. When the clan was relocated to Kuwana domain in today's Mie prefecture, Munehira also moved there. In the 7th year of the Tenpo era (1836), he was hired by Doi family, who controlled Shimofusa Koga domain in today's Chiba province. There was also a record of him going to Edo City with his younger brother, Munetsugu, to become an apprentice of Chounsai Tsunatoshi. Munehira was excellent at forging blades with Choji Gunome Midare tempering line, one of the most noticeable characteristics of Bizen DEN Tradition. Bizen DEN is one of the five famous Japanese sword-forging traditions. Based on available records, Munehira and Munetsugu closely worked together, living in the same domain for many years. We assume they improved their craftsmanship, encouraging each other. Munehira was hired by two domains, we believe his sword-forging technique was highly appreciated among Samurai who lived there. Also, it is easily assumed that he always looked for room for improvement because he went to Edo city to learn craftsmanship from Chounsai Tsunatoshi, one of the most famous swordsmiths in Edo during the end of the Edo period.

A Gunome/Midare Choji Hamon goes on the entyre blade. The Jihada is a coarse K0-Itame Hamon, the blade has 2 mekugi-ana and is shortened. The nice real Samurai Koshirae and all parts are in a perfect condition and ensuite. The Habaki is a 2 piece one goldwraped , tha saya is a black Handachi one, the Tsuba is Steel, the F&K and Kojiri are in steel, the Menuki are soft metal with Dragons in gold high lighted details.
the Sword is fawles and in very good Japanese polish and comes with a beautiful high ranking Samurai Koshirae.
A realy perfect outstanding Koyama school blade and perfect Handachi Koshirae and new Shirasaya.

Price: € 9700,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-15

This is an authentic antique Nihonto Katana Japanese Samurai sword.

A elegant signed late Koto early Shinto period Katana signed: Bishú Osafune SUKESADA (ca 1527-1559) with NTHK Tosho certificate with 6 stamps of the assayers, in Koshiarae mounting and with ShiraSaya on which a Sayagaki is and tsunagi (wooden copy sword).
(Osafune school 2nd Gen.) Bizen province (Okayama prefecture). Mounted in a good Koshirae, including ShiraSaya with Sayagaki of Mr. Hanzan with Tsunagi. The Sue-Bizen smiths and schools were very active in the Muromachi period when there was a huge demand for swords during the many wars in Japan. At the end of the Muromachi period there was a flood of the river which caused schools to disappear completely, also there was less demand for swords due to the period of peace. Sukesada 2nd generation is according to Hawley a 15 point smith.

In this period of many wars the fighting technique also changed, the katana works shorter and was used as the Uchi-katana for use with one hand. There was a great demand for weapons in that period, and less good swords were made for the masses, but also better ones for officers and higher placed Samurai.

This Katana is shortened (Sureage), but the signature is still on the Nakago (sting), and has 3 Mekugi-ana (holes for the Mekugi), with a Chu-kissaki, the blade has a gunome Midate Hamon with Ashi, Nie and JiNie, the Jihada is Itame and Utsuri is present. The sword has a good polish and no forging errors (Kizu or Waré).
The mounting is simple as the Samurai used at the time, black saya with traces of use, black Tsuka-ito band on the handle, the Fuchi is Shakudo with horses with gold highlights, the Kashirae is a lacquered version, the Menuki are as bird motif. The Tsuba made of iron with openwork motif of a bonsai or Japanese conifer. The habaki is covered with gold foil.

A beautiful and good old sword approx. 500 year with mounting and shirasaya.

Price Euro 4950,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-16

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.
A signed Kanbun Shinto Katana: signed by; Tajima Kami Hojoji Tachibana SADAKUNI . Period is Kanbun Shinto, Edo, ca. 1640-1660 with NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON certificate. Mounted in a ShiraSaya.
Tajima Kami Hôjôji Tachibana Sadakuni is a rank as the Jô-Jôsaku esteemed swordsmith who worked in Musashi (Edo) around 1655 (Manji period). He was a smith of the Hôjôji school who was the second swordsmith in skill after Ami no Kami Masahiro in that school.
The Hôjôji school is thought to have descended from the smith Hôjôji Kunimitsu who was one of the Sadamune Santetsu (three outstanding students of Sadamune). Masahiro moved from Tajima province to Edo and founded this school which prospered during the Edo period. Besides Masahiro, the school includes Sadakuni, Yoshitsugu, Masanori, Masateru, Kunimitsu and Kunimasa. As mentioned, Sadakuni was by far the best of these students. It is said that his swords resembled those of Nagasone Okisato (Kotetsu). It is even thought that their school must have had some connection with the Kotetsu school.
Sadakuni is valued in the Hawley with 60 points, and after the founder Masahiro is the most important blacksmith of the Hojoji school where he formed the branch of the KOTETSU school.
His swords are arranged as a Jo-Jo saku and O-wazamono sharp in the Shinto period. The School had an extremely important place in the history of this period.
The Jihada is nicely even and the Hamon is a nice Gunome-Midare Suguha Nie-deki Hamon. The blade is UBU (not shortened) with original length and 1 Mekugi-ana.
The Habaki is of very good quality wrapped with gold foil. The blade is very well polished in Japan by a Mukansa polisher and has no forging flaws.
The Jigane is Ko Itame Hada and nicely even in structure with Jinie. The Nakago has the original length with 1 mekugi-ana.

A super katana in original length from the highly regarded Hojoji school made by Sadakuni.

Price ; € 14.400,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-17

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.
An unsigned (mumei) Shinto period Katana in good polishing with NBTHK HOZON paper. Attributed to ; YAMASHIRO DAIJO KUNIKANE , (1st Generation SHODAI ca. 1624/1645), from Rikuzen province, Kunikane school, with a very good Koshirae. This katana is not a typical Kanbun Shinto blade but with a lot of Sori, made as a Koto blade. Kunikane 1st generation can be classified into the Sai-Jo Saku class (highest rank) and made Saijo O-Wazamono sharp swords (superior sharp swords).
This is a sword of Daijo Kunikane is shodai (1st generation). Kunikane lived in Kokubu Wakabayahi (Sendai province, Jôka, a town near the castle of Sendai), and he is said to be the last descendant of Hoshô Sadamune. In the beginning he was Genzô, and this was later changed to Hongo Kichinosuke. On the orders of Date Masamune, Kunikane entered Kyoto to Kyô Etchu no Kami Masatoshi as a student. In the following year, at Genna (Genwa) Gannen Shigatsu (1615 ), the battle of Osaka took place, and Kunikane returned to his workshop and became more skilled at swordsmithing. It is said that in the second year of the same era (1616) he re-entered the school of Masatoshi. He is said to have received the title Yamashiro no Daijô in Kan‘ei Yonen (1627), but this can already be seen in his works by Kan‘ei Sannen in (1626). Therefore, receiving the title must be in accordance with his works. He became a priest in Kan'ei Jûgonen (1638) and was called Y?kei. In Shôhô Ninen (1645) he transferred his business to his chakushi Kichizamemon and retired. He died in Kanbun Yonen (1664) Jûnigatsu at the age of 73. His works have high shinogi, beautiful masame hada, itame hada, komidare hamon, medium suguba hamon with sunagashi entired in the hada, and the bôshi is in the yakizume style.
The Kunikane smiths have continued the Yamashiro / Hosho tradition from the Koto period with the beautiful Masame Hada up to and including the 13th Generation. The Hamon was almost always the Suguha with a lot of Nie and Ji-nie, the work of the 1st and 2nd generations differ little, but the 2nd Gen. Has more exuberant Ji-Nie and Ara-Nie.
Kunikane 1st Gen. Is highly rated and has 80 points in the Hawley and is also called the Masamune of the Shinto time, he made Saijo O-wazamono sharp swords (the best cutting blades) and has the rank Sai Jo Saku (highest possible rank among swordsmiths) .
This blade is Ubu and not shortened with 2 Mekugi-ana and has no forging flaws or damage. On one side of the kissaki near the cut edge, a spot has appeared, possibly due to some dirt in the Saya. The katana has an active Suguha Hamon in Nie-Deki , the Jihada is the typical Masame Hada with and Jinie and Ara-Nie. The Habaki is made of copper with a silver mantle. The Koshirae is of very good quality with Shakudo F&K with dragons in golden details. The Tsuba is also from Shakudo and signed (possibly Ko-Gingo school) with dragons and golden highlights as well as the menuki. Furthermore, all possible extra fittings are parts on the Saya from Shakudo with gilded dragons. the Saya itself is with dark green lacquer inlaid with mother of pearl with alternating black lacquered rings with some minor damage. The Tsuka is with a good old black Ito winding. This mount also has a Kogai and Kozuka (both signed, Masa Mitsu Tomo with Kao) with signed Ko-katana in very high quality, possibly from the Goto school.
A blade of Kunikane Shodai 1st Gen. Which is very highly valued and very rare and little offered with a very high quality dragon koshirae in good condition.
With ShiraSaya and Tsunagi (the Tsunagi was added later, and due never used, gets the Tsunagi not complete into the ShiraSaya Tsuka).

Price Euro 44.200,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-18

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Daisho set grip / Tsuka and Tsuba set.

This is an excellent quality DaiSho Tsuka set with Tsuba’s for a Katana and wakizashi and is in super good condition from the end of the Edo period (ca. 1800-1840).
The F&K are from Shakudo with fine Nanako with Kiri-Mon in gold high-light, the Menuki are from Shakudo as Jingasa motif, also with gold high-lights.
The Same/rayskin is in good condition and of exceptional quality with very large lugs, the gold/brown colored Tsuka-Ito/winding of the Tsuka is in very good condition.
The Tsuba’s are from Shakudo with fine Nanako with gilded dragons on the edge in very good condition and very well made in detail and of excellent quality.
Dimensions: Katana Tsuka; total length is 25 cm long, sizes of the Fuchi; 3.7cm x 2.2cm. The Kashira; 3.1 x 1.55 cm. Katana Tsuba size; 7.2cm x 6.8cm.
Dimensions; Wakizashi Tsuka; total length 18.5 cm, dimensions of the Fuchi 3.7 cm x 2.1 cm. The Kashira; 3.1 x 1.45 cm. Wakizashi Tsuba size; 6.8cm x 6.5cm.

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-19

This is an authentic antique TANTO NIHONTO Japanese samurai sword.

A slender hirazukuri tanto from the late Koto/Muromachi period (ca. 1490-1535), signed YOSHITSUNA Saku from the Sagami Province, with one mukugi-ana and Ubu (original length). This is a slender old Koto period tanto with Ken Horimono in a beautiful Aikuchi mount and ShiraSaya with tsunagi (wooden copy of the blade). Little is known about this smith; he worked at the end of the Muromachi period in the Sagami Province, located in the central part of the island of Honshu. He signs with the two characters and includes his title. In the Hawley, he has 20 points (YOS 1750). He made wazamono-sharp swords and was a Jyo Saku class smith (above-average work).
This work is a slender dagger with Itame Hada/grain forging using Chikei, a straight blade, and a narrow Suguha-based Hamon with a tight nioi-kuchi and thin lines of Nie in and just above the Ha, like Sunagashi. The Yoshitsuna smiths often made these short tantos, and also in YoroiDoshi versions. This tanto has a Ken Horimono/Bo-Hi with a Sanskrit symbol above it, which has almost been polished away over the centuries. It has a good older polish and no other forging defects. The tanto has a silver habaki, and the Tsunagi still has the old copper habaki. The Koshirae is in good condition with very beautiful striped lacquerwork on the saya. The Tsuka has no Ito winding but Same/ray skin, in good condition. The Menuki are brass-plated and depict the god Ebisu on a carp. The Kozuka and Kogai / split-ware are recently made, silver-plated with water and wave engravings, and the Ko-katana is signed. The Aikuchi F&K and Kojiri are shakudo or silver with very fine nanako.

A beautiful old tanto with very fine and good koshirae.

Price: € 2790,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-20

A Kanbun Shinto period (about 1673) Wakizashi with NTHK papers, signed by SHINANO NO KAMI FUJIWARA NOBUYOSHI , Nidai (2nd Generation) from the Yamashiro provincie in a very good polish, the Blade is Sureage with 2 Mekugi-ana, possible that this blade was reshaped for a marine-mount WWII, the Hamon is Gunome Midare with Jiie and Nioi, Kinsei and Sunagasi. The Jihada is Ko-Itame with Jinie and Chikei.
Nobuyoshi lives in the KanbunShinto period (ca. 1673) in Yamashiro Province. He is a Chu-Jo Saku smith and has 60 points in the Hawley. He also lived in Osaka, his real name was Takai Kinsaburo. the kiku Mon was only engraved by the first 3 smith. The blade has a nice Koshirae in good condition.

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-22

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.

A signed Shinto Katana: signed; Hizen no kuni TADAYOSHI (6th Generation). Period is Shinto ca. 1750/1770 with NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON. Mounted in a ShiraSaya with Sayagaki of Mr Tanobe sensai of the sword museum Tokyo.
Sadayoshi the 6th generation, born Hashimoto Shinzaemon in 1736 and died 28 Dec. 1815, was a swordsmith from Hizen province in SAGA. Also the current Saga Prefecture on Kyushu Island. There are some mysteries about this 6th Generation Tadayoshi, his father Tadayoshi the 5th had 2 sons and the youngest was called the 6th Generation. It is unknown whether the eldest son also forged swords, although he did take the smith name Tadayoshi, no direct works of him are known.
His swords are arranged as a Jo-saku and O-wazamono sharp in the Shinto period. The Hizen School had an extremely important place in the history of this period. The Hawley gives Tadayoshi the 6th Gen. 30 points. The 6e Gen. Is higly recomended and rare to be offerd.
The Sayagaki of Mr. Tanobe says this is the best work he's seen from this smith so far, indeed this sword is superbly made, a perfect Hizen Konuga Jihada with the dark/blueish color of the steel and super tight Suguha Hamon. The blade is UBU (not shortened ) with original length and 1 Mekugi-ana.
The Habaki is newly made and of solid silver. The blade is super well polished in Japan by a Mukansa polisher and has no forging errors. The Jigane is Ko Itame Hada also called the Hizen Konuga Hada with a typical blue glow in the steel, nice and even in structure with Jinie. The Nakago has the horizontal filing strokes (yoko-yasurime) and the typical Hizen Tadayoshi round Kuijiri tip.
Then the Hamon is the typical Hizen Nie deki Suguha hamon where the Nie is beautiful to see.
A super katana in original length from the 6th Generation Tadayoshi.

Price ; € 16.600,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-23

This is an authentic Japanese samurai sword.
A very special Shinogi-zukuri Katana from the Kanbun Shinto period, ca. 1661-1681, signed: Musashi No Kami Nagamichi (Musashi/Settsu province) with NBTHK Hozon papers, mounted in a ShiraSaya.
Nagamichi is a direct student of Daijio Kunimichi and made swords in the Kanbun Shinto period in Osaka and Edo.
The Hamon is a beautiful active O-Notare Gunome with lots of activities and is very brilliant.
Nagamichi made Wazamono sharp swords and belongs to the Jyo Saku rank. This sword was made in the Shinto Toku-den tradition.

This is a powerful blade in very good Japanese polishing with 2 Mekugi-ana (the second small Mekigi-ana at the end of the Nakago is made for the mount so as to fight the blade better in his Tsuka fits.) and is Ubu, not shortened, The Hamon is O-Notare with Gunome Midare with Ko-nie Deki and Ji-Nie. there is also Kinsuji to see. The Jihada is a close Ko-Mokume Hada with Jinie.

The Habaki is two-piece with gold foil wrapped in very good quality.

A powerful long blade of a smith that you not see often in perfect polishing in perfect condition.

Price ; € 9700, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-24

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.

A Shinto ( ca. 1690-1715) Wakizashi with beautiful Koshirae , Signed: YAMASHIRO DAIJO KUNISHIGE , (2nd or 3rd Generation) of Yamashiro Province. in good assembly.
Yamashiro Daijo Minamoto Kunishige is a swordsmith of the Mizuta school and made swords in Edo or Sakushu Tsuyama, but was originally from Bicchu, Yamashiro Daijo Kunishige was called Edo Mizuta, followed the traditions of the Mizuta school and prospered in Edo. The Bitchu Koku Mizuta school flourished from 1530-1700 (the end of the Sengoku period to the middle of the Edo period) in what is now Okayama Prefecture. It lasted until the end of the Edo period. There were about 60 swordsmiths who belonged to the Mizuta school, and Kunishige (of which there were several generations) was the most prestigious swordsmith name that only selected swordmakers were allowed to use in this school. During the Edo period, many Kunishige swordsmiths moved to other parts of Japan.

There were two major groups of Kunishige swordsmiths during the Edo period. One is called Oyogo Kunishige school led by Master Otsuki and the other is called Kono school led by Tameie. Being the younger brother of Otsuki Yogoro Kunishige, this Kunishige belonged to the Oyogo Kunishige school. Yamato Daijyo Kunishige was a prestigious swordsmith. He used Kunishige as his creator's name and received the honorable title (Yamato Daijo). Kunishige has the rank of Jyo-Jyo Saku smith.

This Wakizashi is in good polish and without forging flaws, Hamon is Gunome-Midare with Nioi. The Jihada is Itame with Jinie. The blade has 2 Mekugi-ana, and is slightly shortened or sureage.

The Saya has a beautiful tiger stripe paint in black and red, the Tsuka is wrapped with white Tsuka-ito with a beautiful Rayskin with large lugs underneath. The Fuchi is Shakudo with 2 Mons / Family crests inlaid on it in gold , like a frame of a well or spring. The Kashira is made of buffalo horn, the tsuba is iron with gilded copper inlay as a plant motif. The Menuki are like weasel or rodent motif in Shakudo. The Habaki is made of copper.

A beautiful wakizashi with beautiful mount from the Shinto period.

price Euro 5200,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-25

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.
A robust unsigned late Koto / early Shinto Nagamaki Naoshi Wakizashi, imaginable from the Horikawa School at Kyoto with beautiful Naginata Hi and Bo-hi, mounted in a very beautiful Edo period Koshirae.
This kind of Nagamaki Naoshi blades were often shortened in the Shinto period from Naginata (pole-arm) with which there was a lot of fighting in the Koto period, to knock the legs of the horse away with the Samurai on horseback, so that the Samurai came to the ground and then was overpowered.
The fighting technique in the Shinto period changed and the major battlegrounds (Muromachi period) were no longer involved and so these Naginata blades were converted into handswords.
This Wakizashi is Sureage (shortened, because the Naginata has a very long Nakago to have enough grip in the lance and could not be knocked over by the opponent), with 2 Mekugi-ana.
The founder of the HORIKAWA school was KUNIHIRO (TEN-SHO to KEI-CHO at the end of the Koto period) He moved to SHIMOTSUKE to make swords at ASHIKAGA Castle, where he supposedly made his two famous NAMBOKUCHO copies for NAGAO AKINAGA . In the period of TEN-SHO, he founded “HORIKAWA school” according to his name. He eventually moved to UMETADA with the School to become one of the main founders of SHINTO. He is known as the father of the SHINTO period.
The Habaki is made of brass with a beautiful gold foil wrapping. The Kling is well polished and has no forging flaws. The Jigane is an Itame Hada beautifully smooth in structure with Jinie. Then the Hamon who is a Gunome Midare with a regular pattern and Nioi. The koshirae is of very good quality, The Saya is painted dark red / brown (restored, newly painted) with Kurigata horn and a metal Kojiri at the end of the saya. The Tsuka is wrapped with dark green single wire Ito (luxury winding) and the Menuki are birds. the Fuchi & Kashira and Kozuga are from Shakudo with baskets and farming tools and a bird resting on it with gold, silver and Sentuku highlights. The Tsuba is made of iron, again with the same representation with golden highlights. The Kozuka is equipped with a good Ko-katana.

A particularly beautiful robust Nagamaki Naoshi Wakizashi with a beautiful Edo period Koshirae.

Price ; € 5700, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-26

This is an authentic antique TANTO NIHONTO Japanese samurai sword.
A hirazukuri Tanto made in the Shinshinto period (ca. 1780-1850), unsigned (mumei) with 2 mukugi-ana and Ubu (original length).
This is a tanto made as a slim Hirazukuri Tanto in a beautiful mounting with all parts ensuite in iron with brass inlaid. The blade has 2 Mekugi ana and is not shortened, so Ubu. The Hamon is an even gunome and resembles a Sanbonsugi hamon from the Kanemoto school. The Tanto has a kind of leaf in front of the habaki, which is slightly rough and stands up but is not open, and has no other forging flaws and a good polishing. The Hamon is well made and sleek and on both sides as good as equal.
The Jihada is a beautiful Itame Hada with a nice soft shine on the blade. The Habaki is made of copper with filing strokes.
The Koshirae is in good condition with very nice dark red paintwork with clouds as motif, The Tsuka has a new dark red Ito winding in good condition, The F&K, Tsuba and Kojiri resemble Higo school work in iron with brass inlay work. the Menuki are Shakudo with gold.
The Kozuka is made of beautiful patinated iron with poison Ivy as an image, and the Ko-katana is signed.
A nice Tanto with very nice and good koshirae.

Price; € 2900,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-27

This is an authentic Antique Japanese Nihonto Wakizashi Samurai sword.

A signed and dated Shinshinto period Wakizashi of the famous Yokoyama School, signed: Bizen Osafune Jyu Yokoyama SUKENAGA saku, dated: Bunsei 6 nenn 2 gatsu hi (1824) with special Lobster Koshirae.
This is a typical Wakizashi from the Bizen tradition by the experienced swordmaker Yokoyama SUKENAGA as an early work from 1824. During the later Edo period (Shin-shinto), the swordsmith SUKENAGA functioned as one of the most skilled pure Bizen school makers and called himself the 56th generation descendant of Tomonari, and taught many later Yokoyama smiths the craft. His real name is Yokoyama Kakunosuke a second son of Yokoyama Sukehira, worked exclusively for the Bizen clan and was honored with the title Kaga-no-suke in the fourth year of Tenpo (1833), with the Chrysanthemum-Mon of the imperial family, which he was allowed to engrave in the Nakago of his blades from that time on.
He belonged to the pure Bizen-den technique and devoted himself to forging the old Ichimonji swords from the Kamakura period. He is very good at the hamon of “Jyuka-Choji midare” which looks like a row of clove flower buds like this example and has successfully revived the traditional Fukuoka Ichimonji in the Shin-shinto period. Most of his works that are still in circulation date from ca. 1800-1850. The blades of Sukenaga belong to the Jyo-Jyo Saku class and made mostly Wazamon sharp swords and has 60 points in the Hawley. This Wakizashi is Ubu, not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana, the Habaki is copper and silver plated. The blade is in good polish and has no forging errors, The hamon is the typical Yokoyama Kikka Choji Hamon. The Jihada is a well made close forged Itame with Jinie. The koshirae is of good quality, The Saya is black lacquered, the Tsuka is wound WITHOUT Ito wire, but the bare same/ray skin is visible, this is deliberately made for a better grip, also the Handachi-Kashira has no opening for an Ito band. The F&K are provided with an AOI family crest (Mon) of the Tokugawa Clan, the Menuki are Shakudo as Lobster/crayfish. The Tsuba is made of silver and openwork and engraved on the edge and has a Mokko-gata shape. The Saya has the Kurigata and the Kojiri from the same material as the F&K, whereby the Kojiri is extremely sword and solid, probably to also strike with as a weapon. All parts seem to be made of silver with deep patina. The Kozuka is also a Lobster from Shakudo and signed Mitsuoki with Kao.

A beautiful Shinshinto blade from the Yokoyama school with a special Koshirae.

Price; € 4400,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-28

This is an authentic antique TANTO NIHONTO Japanese samurai sword.

A hirazukuri Tanto made as Yoroi-Doshi (Yoroi = armor or panzer/Doshi = piercing or stabbing the Do) from the late Koto / Muromachi -period (ca. 1520), signed YOSHIMITSU from the TOSA Province (Yamato style), with 1 mukugi-ana and Ubu (original length). This is a tanto made as a thick Hirazukuri YoroiDoshi in a beautiful Aikuchi mount. The first generation of Tosa Yoshimitsu smiths is dated around Tokuji (1306-1308) at the end of the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and is known as Shoan 2, Tokuji 1 and Shoju 2, while Yoshimitsu around Keicho (1596-1615) is known as “Tosa Yoshimitsu”, of which the autograph book states that “this is possibly due to placing that generation during the Kosho period (1455-1457)”.

This work is a short dagger with a slightly thicker, shorter shape, itame and Masame Hada/grain forging with a straight blade and a narrow Suguha based Hamon with a tight nioi-kuchi and thin lines of Nie in and just above the Ha as Sunagashi. The Yoshimitsu smiths made mostly this kind of short robust tanto and also in YoroiDoshi style. The signature is sloppy, which you see with several of the Yoshimitsu smiths. This Tanto has no certificates and has been in Europe since the end of the 1980s. Based on the shape and style, this YoroiDoshi can be placed around 1520 and has 15 points in the Hawley. This Tanto also has a Bo-Hi with a Sanskrit symbol above it and on the other side a double thin Soe-Hi (also called Hashi after the chop-sticks), both of these engravings as a Buddhist symbol. The Hamon is an even Suguha with Nie and Sunagashi, a good polish and no other forging errors. The Tanto has a habaki with a silver-coated foil. The Jihada is a beautiful Itame with Masame Ji-Hada with a beautiful soft shine over the blade.

The Koshirae is in good condition with very nice dark lacquer on the Saya with chop-sticks or stripes as a motif, The Tsuka has no Ito winding but lacquered Same/Ray skin, in good condition. The Menuki are Shakudo with gold and the Mekugi is a 2-piece that is screwed together. The Kozuka is made of beautifully patinated iron with gold highlights, and the Ko-katana is a tsunagi (wooden copy version). The Kurigata is an iron version with a dragon fish in gold on top. The Aikuchi F&K and Kojiri are made of buffalo horn or Kaseopelia turtle.

A beautiful YoroiDoshi Tanto with very nice and good koshirae.

Price; € 3900,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-29

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Katana Samurai sword.

An unsigned Kamakura period Nagamaki Naoshi Katana (ca. 1225/1235) in a very good Japanese polish with NBTHK JUYO Token certificate. Issued 2012 as 55th Juyo year. Attributed to; KATAYAMA ICHIMONJI, Bizen province, This katana is a robust blade with the great O-Choji Midare which is also diagonally placed on this Katana (SAKA-CHOJI) for which they are known, the Ichimonji blades are superior sharp swords. The forging pattern (Jihada) is also very beautiful and exuberantly present as a mix of Itama and Mokume patterns. This blade was made as a Naginata pole arm, and has the typical diamond shape. In the long sword history many school and swordsmith take the Ichimonji school as an highlight of swordmaking and make swords in this style. The Habaki is a 2-piece and provided with gold foil, the ShiraSaya is new.

THE ICHIMONJI SCHOOL
The Ichimonji School in Bizen Province was a large school that was founded in the beginning of the Kamakura period and lasted through the Nanbokucho period. From the beginning of the Kamakura period and up until the middle of the Kamakura period, works by this school are commonly referred to as Ko-Ichimonji works. From the beginning of the Kamakura period and through the middle of the Kamakura period, the center of the production done by this school was located in the area called Fukuoka). From the end of the Kamakura period and through the early part of the Nanbokucho period, the center of production moved to Yoshioka. Around the Shochu era (1324-1326) another branch of the Ichimonji school sprang up in Iwato in Bizen. This branch is called the Iwato Ichimonji. Since it was most active around the Shochu era, it is also called the Shochu Ichimonji school. Around 1225, Norifusa is said to have founded Katayama Ichimonji school when he moved to Katayama from Fukuoka. The name of the school is derived from the fact that many of the swords extant today are signed only with the kanji character “Ichi” (—). To this day there is uncertainty as to whether any of the smiths who signed with individual names are one and the same as any of these practically anonymous artisans who signed with only an “Ichi” (—).

THE KATAYAMA ICHIMONJI SCHOOL
It has often been postulated that Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji Norifusa founded the Katayama Ichimonji school when he moved from Fukuoka to Katayama in Bitchu Province. Now it is more commonly thought that instead of moving to Bitchu Province, he actually moved to the Katayama that is located not far from Fukuoka within Bizen Province. This move took place in the middle of the Kamakura era around 1225. Other than Norifusa, the school's leading smiths include Sanetoshi, Yorizane, Noritsune, and Norizane. These smiths were excellent and their working period extended from the middle of the Kamakura era into the Nanbokucho era. The Katayama school had its roots in the Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji style, and because Katayama is close to Fukuoka, the workmanship of the smiths from these two areas is similar.
As an example, a typical work of Norifusa will be as follows:
The hamon of Norifusa contains a florid chôji-midare mixed with ko-gunome containing ashi and yô. It is nioi dominated but is lined with ko-nie. There are also sunagashi and kinsuji. The greater part of the hamon is saka-gakaru or slanted. The kitae is a fine ji-nie lined itame mixed with mokume and nagare-masa contains midare utsuri. The boshi will generally be midare stopping in yakitsume style.
Some of the general characteristics of the Katayama Ichimonji school are as follows:
Sugata: Those made in the mid Kamakura era will have a grand and graceful sugata with ikubi kissaki. Examples of tachi with larger kissaki and the other characteristics of the Nanbokucho era will be seen in the works of the later smiths. They made nagamaki as well.
Jigane: Itame hada and mokume hada mixed with o-hada will be seen. Ji-nie and utsuri will be present.
Hamon: The Katayama Ichimonji smiths developed a distinctive hamon of their own. It is based upon the o-choji midare of the Fukuoka smiths but their choji will be in saka design and these are referred to as saka-choji midare. This is the trademark of the Katayama Ichimonji school.

A great Juyo Katana from the Katayama Ichimonji school as Naginata Katana.

Price Euro 48.900,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-31

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.
A signed Kan-ei / early Kanbun Shinto period Wakizashi (ca.1650-1672) in a very good polish with NBTHK HOZON paper. Signed; Izumi (no) Kami Fujiwara Kunisada as 1st generation with very nice Koshirae and ShiraSaya with Tsunagi (70 points in the Hawley).
This Wakizashi is from the famous first generation (Shodai) Kunisada, the father of the very famous Inoue Shinkai, from Settsu province. This 1st generation was active around Kan-ei / Kanbun (1650-1672).
Kunisada 1st generation is also called Oya-Kunisada, which means parent or parent in Japanese. Inoue Shinkai often helped his older father make swords in his early years, which can also be seen regularly in the ironwork and signature.
Born in 1589, Kunisada (in Hyuga province) later moved to Osaka, known as the founder of the Osaka Shinto, he died in 1652. The first generation Kunisada was born in the seventeenth year of Tensho (1589). His hometown was central Kyushu, in Obi-han in Hyuga prefecture. He became a student of Horikawa Kunihiro. Many people believe that Kunisada was actually a student of Kunitomo, one of Kunihiro's leading students. It is also very likely that Kunitomo was Kunihiro's cousin. Like Kunihiro and Kunisada, Kunitomo was also born in Obi, Hyuga.
After spending several years as an apprentice under Kunitomo, Kunisada became independent and moved to Osaka. Another student from Kunitomo.
Osaka was a newly developed city at the time. Toyotomi Hideyoshi started building his enormous castle there in 1584 and it was completed in 1585. Hideyoshi died in 1598 and the lord of the castle became his son, Hideyori. The castle was destroyed by Tokugawa Ieyasu during the so-called Osaka Winter and Osaka Summer campaigns of 1614-1615. The city of Osaka was also destroyed. Hideyori and his mother, Yodo, both committed suicide at the end of the war. The Tokugawa Shogunate then established an office in Osaka in 1619. It was called the Osaka Jodai. At that time they started rebuilding the city and the castle.
Kunisada received the title of Izumi-no-kami in the ninth year of Genna (1623). Since there are examples, such as a sword from 1621 signed "Sesshu Osaka ju Fujiwara Kunisada", we know that Kunisada moved to Osaka before he was given the title Izumi-no-kami. Given the time Osaka Jodai was founded and the date of this sword, Kunisada probably moved to Osaka between 1619 and 1621.
Kunisada worked steadily from 1623 to around 1645. He signed most of his magazines with the May, "Izumi-no-kami Fujiwara Kunisada". Sometimes he used "Izumi-no-kami Kunisada" or "At Osaka Izumi-no-kami Kunisada". Kunzan Honma pointed out that the reputation of Kunisada's work is that even his average products are of high quality (Jyojyo saku). Kunzan wrote that he believed that the quality of Kunisada's average swords is better than that of the second generation Kunisada (Inoue Shinkai), although the latter's best products are more appreciated than the first generation Kunisada.
This blade is Ubu, so not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana. The Wakizashi has a Gunome Midare / Choji Midare in Nioikuchi, the Jihada is a Ko-Itame with Jinie like the Osaka Shinto Jigane should be. The Habaki is a 2 piece and gold plated in high quality. The Koshirae is good quality with Shakudo F&K with lobster or spiny lobster in gold highlights. the Saya is dark brown Uruchi lacquer with buffalo horn parts. The Tsuka is with a good black winding, with shells like Menuki. The Tsuba is made of iron with a broken pattern of blossom and Mons. A very well forged blade from Kunisada with a good quality koshirae.

Price: € 7.700,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-34

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese samurai sword.

A signed Koto period katana: signed; Bishu Osafune SUKLESADA. Muromachi Period, Bishu-Bizen Province, ca. 1527-1559 with NBTHK HOZON certificate. Mounted in a ShiraSaya.
This katana is in very good condition despite its age of approximately 450-500 years; the polishing is also very well done. Sukesada belonged to a group of sword smiths active in the town of Osafune in the Bizen Province. Along with the Mino smiths, they were the most active smiths during the Muromachi period, with high production rates. The Uchigatana was the precursor to the later katana, which had a longer tang, or nakago, so it could be wielded as a two-handed sword. During the Muromachi period, Japan was constantly at war, and the demand for swords was extremely high, leading to more or less mass production and many lower-quality swords. There were many Sukesada smiths in Bizen and Bishu. This Sukesada smith has 15 points in the Hawley and made Wazamono-sharp swords and is valued as a Jyo Saku smith.
The Jihada is Itame and beautifully even, and the hamon is a beautiful Gunome-Midare Suguha Nie-deki hamon with abundant and clearly visible utsuri. The blade is UBU (not shortened) with its original length and 3 Mekugi-ana and the beautiful, typically elegant, deep sori (curve of the blade).
The habaki is of very good quality, made of solid silver. The blade is very well polished and has no forging defects.

A beautiful Koto katana in its original length with an NBTHK Hozon certificate.

Price: € 4750,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: Z-35

This is an authentic antique TANTO NIHONTO Japanese samurai sword.

A Hira-zukuri Sun-nobi O-Tanto made in the Koto period ( 1429 ), signed and dated with 1 mukugi-ana and Ubu (original length) BISHU OSAFUNE TSUGUMITSU dated : the year In the 8th month, Shouchô 2nd (1429 ) (Bizen province) with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon on the blade with very nice koshirae and ShiraSaya. There is still a copy of a Japanese magazine or folder where this tanto was published.
Tsugumitsu knew 4 generations of which this O-tanto was made by the 2nd generation, who gets 20 points in the Hawley and was the son of Shigehisa and grandson of Hidemitsu. After a period of about 60 years of wars between the northern and southern daimyo's, things calmed down and the swordsmiths could focus more on the elegance and quality of their swords, of which this O-tanto is also a good example.
This Koto O-Tanto of the early Muromachi period (Shouchô 2/1429) Bizen Province. The Length of the Nakago is 34.2 cm, and no curvature or Sori. The construction is Hira-zukuri Sun-nobi style. The Nagasa is longer than usual relative to the Mihaba and almost no curvature or Sori which is believed to have been called Ouei-Bizen geometry in early Muromachi due to new preferences in swordsmanship in addition to use for a long Tachi. This is a tanto made as a slim and long SunNobi-zukuri Tanto in a very nice mount. The blade has no forging flaws with a Ubu Nakago that has a very nice finish and patina and a good polish in a very nice Koshirae and ShiraSaya.

The Jihada is a nice little Itame/Mokume Hada with a nice soft shine on the blade and the Hamon is a tight Suguha in Ko-Nie and Nioi. The Habaki is a 2 piece wrapped with a gold foil.
The Koshirae is in very good condition with very nice Japanese dark red Urushi transparent paintwork, The Tsuka has new Same without Ito winding with Kiri-Mon Menuki, The F&K and tsuba are by Shakudo with plant motif in gold highlights, the Kozuka is also equipped with golden Kiri-mons and the Ko-katana is signed and has a beautiful Hamon.

An excellent Koto period Tanto with very nice and good koshirae with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate.

Price; € 9450, -