{"product_id":"authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-koto-era-tanto-yoshimitsu-tozando","title":"Authentic Japanese Sword for Sale - Koto Era Tanto - Yoshimitsu | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Yoroidōshi (armor-piercing tanto), signed Yoshimitsu (吉光) — attributed to Tosa Yoshimitsu, late Muromachi period (Bunmei era) — an exceptionally thick hira-zukuri blade — in a period aikuchi koshirae with kage-maki-e saya and kozuka\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSigned hira-zukuri yoroidōshi attributed to Tosa Yoshimitsu · a massive kasane of some 9 mm · well-forged itame-with-mokume · tight suguha with a deep turnback · in a characterful de-menuki aikuchi mounting with marbled kage-maki-e lacquer and a fitted kozuka\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA most compelling and robust blade judged to be the work of \u003cem\u003eYoshimitsu\u003c\/em\u003e, a master representative of Tosa province in the late Muromachi period. This is a \u003cem\u003ehira-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eyoroidōshi\u003c\/em\u003e (armor-piercing dagger) thought to have been forged around the Bunmei era of the late Muromachi period. Accompanied by a finely preserved period mounting, it unites the overwhelming strength of a practical fighting blade with a stirring historical value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is very well polished and well preserved — remarkably sound and, for an old sword (\u003cem\u003ekotō\u003c\/em\u003e), essentially free of flaws overall. The one regret is a very small edge nick (\u003cem\u003eha-kobore\u003c\/em\u003e) about 6 cm up from the \u003cem\u003eha-machi\u003c\/em\u003e; this speaks to the blade's long history and in no way diminishes the fine appreciation value or the soundness of the piece as a whole. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is an \u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e partly mixed with \u003cem\u003emokume\u003c\/em\u003e, well forged so that the layers of the forging stand out clearly. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e is a \u003cem\u003esuguha\u003c\/em\u003e with a tight \u003cem\u003enioiguchi\u003c\/em\u003e, turning back broadly at the point (\u003cem\u003ebōshi\u003c\/em\u003e). The tang (\u003cem\u003enakago\u003c\/em\u003e) is firmly cut with the two-character signature \u003cem\u003eYoshimitsu\u003c\/em\u003e. The mounting is a \u003cem\u003ede-menuki\u003c\/em\u003e-style \u003cem\u003eaikuchi\u003c\/em\u003e with a shadow-\u003cem\u003emaki-e\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003ekage-maki-e\u003c\/em\u003e) lacquered scabbard; a distinctive fitting detail, in which one side of a peg-hole is left unpierced, preserves the character of the period to this day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe greatest feature of this piece is its astonishing thickness — a \u003cem\u003ekasane\u003c\/em\u003e of some 9 mm that overturns the ordinary idea of a tanto — in a commanding \u003cem\u003eyoroidōshi\u003c\/em\u003e form. The trim, ridgeless \u003cem\u003ehira-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e body, together with a mune that draws a steep, deep line, radiates an extreme, purposeful beauty honed for one thing only: to pierce an opponent's armor and its gaps. The solid heft and taut tension felt the moment it is taken in hand convey directly the spirit of the samurai who threw himself, body and soul, into battle. This is precisely the refined mass and balance of a \u003cem\u003echūmon-uchi\u003c\/em\u003e — a blade commissioned from a master smith by a warrior with a special purpose in mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the smith — Tosa Yoshimitsu\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYoshimitsu was a master smith active in Tosa province (present-day Kōchi) around the Bunmei era (later 15th century) of the late Muromachi period. Tosa Yoshimitsu left many fine, highly practical blades, showing particular skill in carefully made works such as the \u003cem\u003eyoroidōshi\u003c\/em\u003e prized by samurai for self-defense and real combat. In an age awash with mass-produced blades, a \u003cem\u003echūmon-uchi\u003c\/em\u003e like this — with an extra-thick kasane and excellent ground and edge — is exceedingly precious, and is very highly regarded in the appreciation and collecting of swords today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe koshirae\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is accompanied by a well-preserved \u003cem\u003ede-menuki aikuchi\u003c\/em\u003e koshirae with a shadow-\u003cem\u003emaki-e\u003c\/em\u003e scabbard and a fitted \u003cem\u003ekozuka\u003c\/em\u003e. The hilt is a lavish full ray-skin wrap (\u003cem\u003esō-same-maki\u003c\/em\u003e) — a mark of high-grade mountings — set with a splendid large central nodule (\u003cem\u003eoyatsubu\u003c\/em\u003e) as an accent. Boldly three-dimensional \u003cem\u003ede-menuki\u003c\/em\u003e in the form of an ox lend a refined design touch within the martial austerity. The \u003cem\u003esaya\u003c\/em\u003e is finished in a deep, flavorful marbled \u003cem\u003ekage-maki-e\u003c\/em\u003e of intermingled red and green, harmonizing beautifully with the menuki for an air of exceptional elegance. A \u003cem\u003ekozuka\u003c\/em\u003e is securely housed in the side of the scabbard, conveying the refinement of the samurai of the age and the high completeness of the ensemble as a set of tools.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn extremely powerful yoroidōshi by Yoshimitsu, entrusted with a samurai's life in the turbulent years on the eve of the Sengoku age. With its overwhelming thickness, clear ground and edge, and a high-toned aikuchi koshirae full of period feeling, it is an ultimate piece through which one can fully savor the essence of a practical fighting blade and the breath of history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tanto — yoroidōshi (armor-piercing dagger), hira-zukuri\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e Yoshimitsu (吉光), two-character signature\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertification:\u003c\/strong\u003e none (attributed to Tosa Yoshimitsu)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Muromachi period, ca. Bunmei era (later 15th century)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmith \/ province:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yoshimitsu — Tosa province (present-day Kōchi)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e well-forged itame mixed with mokume, forging layers clearly visible\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e suguha with a tight nioiguchi, turning back broadly at the bōshi\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 21.8 cm \/ 8.58 in (about 7 sun 2 bu)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.0 cm (mu-sori)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 20.7 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9 mm (exceptionally thick)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 150 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (without scabbard):\u003c\/strong\u003e 210 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e very well polished and preserved; a very small edge nick (ha-kobore) about 6 cm from the ha-machi; otherwise essentially flawless and sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e period de-menuki aikuchi koshirae — red-and-green marbled kage-maki-e saya, full ray-skin (sō-same) hilt with a large oyatsubu, ox de-menuki, with a fitted kozuka\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorokushō (Japanese registration) No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nagano 93867\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53695716786539,"sku":"611-NNT093867","price":450000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/nagano93867_yoshimitsu_1.jpg?v=1786327861","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-koto-era-tanto-yoshimitsu-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}