{"product_id":"authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-shishinto-era-katana-masatsugu-tozando","title":"Authentic Japanese Sword for Sale - Shishinto Era Katana - Masatsugu, NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token\/Tokubetsu Kicho Token Certificate | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Katana, signed \"Fujiwara Masatsugu\" with kaō, dated Tenpō 8 (1837) — Double NBTHK Certification \u0026amp; Honami Kōson sayagaki\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAn ubu, signed Shinshintō katana by Fujiwara Masatsugu of the Suishinshi Masahide school — carrying two generations of NBTHK papers and a rare scabbard inscription by the great Shōwa authority Honami Kōson, in shirasaya\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe are pleased to present a rare, signed (\u003cem\u003ezaimei\u003c\/em\u003e) katana with an unshortened (\u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e) tang by \u003cstrong\u003eFujiwara Masatsugu (藤原正次)\u003c\/strong\u003e, a skilled smith who worked in Musashi Province in the Tenpō era of the late Edo period. Its greatest appeal lies in a distinguished double provenance: it carries the important papers of \u003cstrong\u003etwo separate generations of appraisal\u003c\/strong\u003e — the NBTHK \"Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken\" and the older \"Tokubetsu Kichō Tōken\" — together with a highly prized \u003cstrong\u003escabbard inscription (\u003cem\u003esayagaki\u003c\/em\u003e) by Honami Kōson\u003c\/strong\u003e, a towering figure of the modern sword world. Freshly polished and virtually free of flaws, both the steel and the temper line retain a fresh, lustrous vitality. The result is a blade of exceptional reliability and outstanding collection value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDouble certification\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the \"Tokubetsu Kichō Tōken\" (Especially Precious Sword) paper issued in the Shōwa era, this katana carries the current NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai) \"Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken\" (Especially Worthy of Preservation) paper — a luxurious \u003cstrong\u003edouble-certification\u003c\/strong\u003e that few blades can boast. Having passed multiple rigorous examinations across the generations, its authenticity as a genuine work and its value as an asset are placed on the firmest possible footing. The older Tokubetsu Kichō paper (1969) even bears the name of the then-chairman, Marquis Hosokawa Moritatsu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the smith — Fujiwara Masatsugu (藤原正次)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMasatsugu belonged to the celebrated school of \u003cstrong\u003eSuishinshi Masahide\u003c\/strong\u003e, the renowned founder of the Shinshintō (\"new-new sword\") revival. He was the adopted son and heir of the second-generation Masahide (known as \u003cem\u003eHakuyū Nyūdō\u003c\/em\u003e), and is counted in the third generation of this distinguished lineage. Working in Musashi Province (Edo) during the Tenpō era of the late Edo period, he inherited the teachings of his father and grandfather and left behind many fine swords combining practical strength with beauty. The tang is \u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e and retains its clear period signature (\u003cem\u003eubu-zaimei\u003c\/em\u003e), giving the piece outstanding documentary value. The blade also carries a period ownership inscription, \"owned by Fujiwara Masazumi\" (藤原正純所持).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFreshly polished and virtually free of flaws (\u003cem\u003ekizu\u003c\/em\u003e), the blade is in exceptionally healthy condition. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is a finely and densely packed \u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e (wood-grain) pattern, covered with fine \u003cem\u003eji-nie\u003c\/em\u003e that lends it depth, moisture, and clarity. The temper line is based on a dignified \u003cem\u003esuguha\u003c\/em\u003e (straight hamon) tinged with a gentle \u003cem\u003enotare\u003c\/em\u003e (shallow undulation), the temper edge glowing with an even, bright \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e. Rather than relying on flamboyance, it captivates through the quality of the forging and the clear brilliance of the edge — a concentrated display of the high technical skill for which Masatsugu is known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA handsome \u003cem\u003ebō-hi\u003c\/em\u003e (single straight groove) is carved cleanly into both faces of the blade, heightening its dignified appearance while producing an excellent weight balance in the hand. With a solid, powerful figure in both width and thickness, it nonetheless sweeps into a beautiful, flowing curvature toward the tip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe mounting (shirasaya) \u0026amp; the Honami Kōson sayagaki\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond its double certification, the plain wooden \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e (resting scabbard) bears a \u003cem\u003esayagaki\u003c\/em\u003e (scabbard inscription) by \u003cstrong\u003eHonami Kōson\u003c\/strong\u003e, the foremost authority in sword appraisal and research of the Shōwa era. Swords carrying a Kōson sayagaki are highly treasured on the market, and it stands as a major highlight, further attesting that this is the fine work of a master smith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFolded together, the assurances of two generations of certification, the \u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e period signature of the Tenpō master Fujiwara Masatsugu — a smith in the legitimate bloodline of Suishinshi Masahide — the beautifully carved \u003cem\u003ebō-hi\u003c\/em\u003e on both faces, and the \u003cem\u003esayagaki\u003c\/em\u003e of Honami Kōson make this a supreme collection piece that no connoisseur should overlook.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Katana (刀), shinogi-zukuri; ubu, zaimei (unshortened, signed)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e Omote — \"Fujiwara Masatsugu\" (藤原正次) with kaō, and the ownership inscription \"Fujiwara Masazumi shoji\" (藤原正純所持 \/ \"owned by Fujiwara Masazumi\"); Ura — \"Tenpō hachinen rokugatsu-hi\" (天保八年六月日 \/ a day in the 6th month of Tenpō 8, 1837)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSchool:\u003c\/strong\u003e Suishinshi Masahide school (Shinshintō); Musashi Province (Edo)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e Finely packed itame hada with ji-nie\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e Suguha-based, tinged with shallow notare; bright, even nie along the temper edge\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarving (horimono):\u003c\/strong\u003e Bō-hi on both faces\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLength of edge (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 61.2 cm (approx. 24.09 in \/ 2 shaku 0 sun 2 bu)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.67 cm (approx. 0.66 in \/ 5 bu 5 rin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 28.9 mm (approx. 1.14 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.4 mm (approx. 0.29 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at tip (sakihaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 19.0 mm (approx. 0.75 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at tip (sakikasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.6 mm (approx. 0.22 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 630 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Freshly polished; virtually flawless and very healthy\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shirasaya, with a sayagaki (scabbard inscription) by Honami Kōson\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertification:\u003c\/strong\u003e NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken (Dec 14, 2022) and NBTHK Tokubetsu Kichō Tōken (June 1, 1969) — double certification\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegistration No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tokyo No. 20519 (東京 第20519号)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53793929560427,"sku":"611-TKK020519","price":1500000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/tokyo20559_masatsugu_1.jpg?v=1788399775","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-shishinto-era-katana-masatsugu-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}