{"product_id":"authentic-koto-era-wakizashi-for-sale-mumei-nbthk-hozon-token-certificatekaneharu-tozando","title":"Authentic Koto Era Wakizashi for Sale - Mumei, NBTHK Hozon Token Certificate(Kaneharu) | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Ko-wakizashi, unsigned (mumei) — attributed to Kaneharu of Mino — late Muromachi period (Eiroku era) — NBTHK Hozon Tōken, in period koshirae with kozuka\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUbu, wide-bodied hira-zukuri ko-wakizashi · well-forged ko-itame steel with a lively gunome edge · in an elaborate period mounting with a matching kozuka · NBTHK Hozon papered to \"Kaneharu\"\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unsigned (\u003cem\u003emumei\u003c\/em\u003e), original-length (\u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e) ko-wakizashi by a smith active in Mino province around the Eiroku era (1558–1570) of the late Muromachi period, and judged by the NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai) to be the work of \u003cem\u003eKaneharu\u003c\/em\u003e. Freshly polished and nearly flawless, it is a broad, confident blade housed complete in an elaborate period mounting (\u003cem\u003ejidai koshirae\u003c\/em\u003e) fitted with a matching \u003cem\u003ekozuka\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn fresh polish and essentially flawless, the blade shows a ground and edge in exceptionally sound (\u003cem\u003ekenzen\u003c\/em\u003e) condition. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is a \u003cem\u003eko-itame\u003c\/em\u003e (fine wood-grain), very well worked and beautifully clear. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e is a \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e with generous activity inside the edge, where \u003cem\u003eyō\u003c\/em\u003e (detached leaf-like clusters) and \u003cem\u003eashi\u003c\/em\u003e (\"feet\") appear throughout — the kind of lively, workmanlike temper for which Mino swords are prized.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a broad, powerful \u003cem\u003ehira-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e (flat-sided, ridgeless) ko-wakizashi in generous \u003cem\u003eō-hira-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e proportions, with a wide body that gives it real presence in the hand. At a \u003cem\u003enagasa\u003c\/em\u003e of 33.4 cm (about 1 shaku 1 sun) with only 0.4 cm of \u003cem\u003esori\u003c\/em\u003e, it has the substantial, well-balanced silhouette typical of the finest Sengoku-era short blades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the unsigned tang and the Kaneharu attribution\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tang (\u003cem\u003enakago\u003c\/em\u003e) is \u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e — original and never shortened — and unsigned (\u003cem\u003emumei\u003c\/em\u003e), with a single peg-hole (\u003cem\u003emekugi-ana\u003c\/em\u003e). In February 2026 the NBTHK examined the blade and, on the strength of its shape, steel, and temper, certified it as the work of \u003cem\u003eKaneharu\u003c\/em\u003e, a swordsmith of the Mino (Seki) tradition — one of the Five Traditions (\u003cem\u003eGokaden\u003c\/em\u003e) and the great center of practical sword production during Japan's warring-states age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe koshirae\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ko-wakizashi comes in a handsome antique \u003cem\u003ekoshirae\u003c\/em\u003e with a black-lacquer \u003cem\u003esaya\u003c\/em\u003e and an iron \u003cem\u003etsuba\u003c\/em\u003e. The hilt is wrapped in black cord over \u003cem\u003esame\u003c\/em\u003e (ray skin) with figural \u003cem\u003emenuki\u003c\/em\u003e and a \u003cem\u003efuchi-kashira\u003c\/em\u003e worked in \u003cem\u003enanako\u003c\/em\u003e ground with gold accents; the mounting also carries a fitted \u003cem\u003ekozuka\u003c\/em\u003e (small utility-knife) decorated with a crane among grasses in gold and silver. The hilt wrap (\u003cem\u003etsuka-ito\u003c\/em\u003e) shows a few minor areas of old restoration, but the ensemble is an unusually elaborate and characterful mounting in the taste of the samurai age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA healthy, freshly polished Mino ko-wakizashi in ubu, unsigned condition, its well-forged ko-itame steel and lively gunome edge papered by the NBTHK to Kaneharu — and dressed in a rich period koshirae complete with a matching kozuka. An engaging, well-documented kotō ready to appreciate exactly as it is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wakizashi (ko-wakizashi), broad hira-zukuri (ō-hira-zukuri)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e unsigned (mumei), ubu (un-shortened) tang; attributed to Kaneharu (Mino)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertification:\u003c\/strong\u003e NBTHK \u003cem\u003eHozon Tōken\u003c\/em\u003e (No. 3038422), issued February 16, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Muromachi period, ca. Eiroku era (1558–1570) (attributed)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSchool \/ tradition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mino (Seki)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e ko-itame, very well forged and clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e gunome, with yō and ashi within the edge\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 33.4 cm \/ 13.15 in (about 1 shaku 1 sun)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.4 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 31.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.9 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeg-holes (mekugi-ana):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 290 g (blade only) \/ 470 g (without scabbard)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshly polished, essentially flawless; ji and ha very sound; hilt wrap (tsuka-ito) with some minor old restoration\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e antique koshirae — black-lacquer saya, iron tsuba, black-wrapped tsuka with menuki and nanako-ground fuchi-kashira with gold accents, and a fitted kozuka (crane-and-grasses design in gold and silver)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorokushō (Japanese registration) No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tokyo 281651\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53504151617899,"sku":"611-ATQSWD-Tokyo281651","price":420000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/tokyo281651_kaneharu_1.jpg?v=1783666475","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-koto-era-wakizashi-for-sale-mumei-nbthk-hozon-token-certificatekaneharu-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}