{"product_id":"authentic-shinto-era-katana-for-sale-tadahiro-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token-certificate-tozando","title":"Authentic Shintō Era Katana for Sale - Tadahiro, NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token Certificate | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eJapanese Katana, signed Hizen no Kuni jū Ōmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro (肥前国住近江大掾藤原忠廣) — early Edo period — NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken — ubu, over 2 shaku 5 sun, with a rare custom-order gunome-midare — accompanied by a Satō Kanzan sayagaki and an aogai period koshirae\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUbu, signed masterwork by the second-generation Hizen master Ōmi Daijō Tadahiro · the quintessential Hizen konuka-hada · a rare, flamboyant gunome-midare (rather than his signature suguha) with chōji-ashi, sunagashi and kinsuji · NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon, Kanzan sayagaki, blue-shell period mounting\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai) \u003cem\u003eTokubetsu Hozon Tōken\u003c\/em\u003e — the rank reserved for blades that, among Hozon swords, are of outstanding workmanship and in a fine state of preservation. This is a truly ultimate example: an \u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e (original-length), signed (\u003cem\u003ezaimei\u003c\/em\u003e) masterwork by \u003cem\u003eŌmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro\u003c\/em\u003e, the second-generation head of the illustrious Hizen line and son of the first-generation Tadayoshi who built the golden age of Hizen swords. With an overwhelming length exceeding 2 shaku 5 sun (about 76.6 cm), a commanding form, and — quite distinct from the \u003cem\u003esuguha\u003c\/em\u003e that is this smith's hallmark — a flamboyant \u003cem\u003egunome-midare\u003c\/em\u003e peculiar to a special custom order, it is a magnificent and highly rare piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFreshly polished and nearly flawless. There is a patch of black rust about 16 mm long, roughly 17 mm up from the \u003cem\u003emune-machi\u003c\/em\u003e, but both ground and edge are exceptionally sound — a superb condition wholly worthy of the \u003cem\u003eTokubetsu Hozon\u003c\/em\u003e designation. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e shows the very essence of the Hizen tradition: a beautifully packed \u003cem\u003ekonuka-hada\u003c\/em\u003e (\"rice-bran skin\") of clear, limpid beauty. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e, unlike the \u003cem\u003esuguha\u003c\/em\u003e seen in most of Tadahiro's works, is a \u003cem\u003egunome-midare\u003c\/em\u003e made for a special custom order — making this an unusually rare example. Within the edge run \u003cem\u003echōji-ashi\u003c\/em\u003e; along the bright, clear temper boundary appear \u003cem\u003esunagashi\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ekinsuji\u003c\/em\u003e, uniting boldness with refinement in an overwhelming display. In places the returning temper leaps onto the \u003cem\u003emune\u003c\/em\u003e, suggesting a form of \u003cem\u003ehitatsura\u003c\/em\u003e (full temper). The tang (\u003cem\u003enakago\u003c\/em\u003e) is \u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e and unaltered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003enagasa\u003c\/em\u003e exceeds 2 shaku 5 sun (about 76.6 cm) — a commanding long blade that perfectly preserves its original \u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e form. Both \u003cem\u003emotohaba\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003esakihaba\u003c\/em\u003e are solid, the \u003cem\u003esori\u003c\/em\u003e stands up beautifully, and the sheer impact and dignity felt when the sword is taken in hand are in a class of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the smith — Ōmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eŌmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro was the second-generation head of the Hizen Tadayoshi house, one of the foremost lineages of the new-sword (\u003cem\u003eshintō\u003c\/em\u003e) era. After receiving the honorary title of \u003cem\u003eŌmi Daijō\u003c\/em\u003e in Kan'ei 18 (1641), across a working career of some sixty years he raised the reputation of Hizen swords to an unshakable height — a master truly representative of the early Edo period. Ranked \u003cem\u003eShintō Jōjō-saku\u003c\/em\u003e for quality and listed among the \u003cem\u003eŌ-wazamono\u003c\/em\u003e for cutting ability, he reigned at the summit of both beauty and practicality, and continues to captivate collectors to this day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe period koshirae\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sword is accompanied by a period mounting whose \u003cem\u003esaya\u003c\/em\u003e glimmers with fine particles of blue shell (\u003cem\u003eaogai\u003c\/em\u003e) scattered in deep black lacquer, dressed with high-grade metal fittings, \u003cem\u003emenuki\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003efuchi-kashira\u003c\/em\u003e. The hilt is finished in \u003cem\u003emaki-same\u003c\/em\u003e style, with the characteristic nodules of the ray skin (\u003cem\u003eoyatsubu\u003c\/em\u003e) polished out from within the lacquer so that they sparkle like stardust as the light shifts — a treatment that far transcends mere grip, boasting outstanding prestige and beauty. The \u003cem\u003etsuba\u003c\/em\u003e is an artistic openwork piece bearing the auspicious pine and plum and elegant patterns; the \u003cem\u003emenuki\u003c\/em\u003e take the form of dragons; and the care lavished on every detail of the \u003cem\u003efuchi-kashira\u003c\/em\u003e and hilt makes this a luxurious, top-grade period koshirae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe sayagaki of Satō Kanzan\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSatō Kanzan, through his exceptional connoisseurship and immense knowledge, appraised countless National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties as well as masterworks handed down in daimyō families nationwide. In the sword world, the presence of a Kanzan \u003cem\u003esayagaki\u003c\/em\u003e (scabbard inscription) serves as a supreme guarantee of a blade's authenticity and artistic value — an ultimate mark of prestige for the collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA supreme masterpiece: a commanding, over-2-shaku-5-sun ubu blade tempered with a custom-order gunome-midare rare for Tadahiro, accompanied by an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate, a sayagaki by Dr. Satō Kanzan, and a beautiful aogai-scattered period koshirae — a sword fully worthy of heading any collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Katana (shinogi-zukuri)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e Hizen no Kuni jū Ōmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro (肥前国住近江大掾藤原忠廣); ubu, zaimei\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertification:\u003c\/strong\u003e NBTHK \u003cem\u003eTokubetsu Hozon Tōken\u003c\/em\u003e; with a sayagaki by Satō Kanzan\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early Edo period (2nd generation; title received 1641)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmith \/ school:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ōmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro — 2nd-generation Hizen Tadayoshi house; Shintō Jōjō-saku, Ō-wazamono\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e beautifully packed konuka-hada (classic Hizen), clear and limpid\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e rare custom-order gunome-midare with chōji-ashi, sunagashi and kinsuji; partial hitatsura-like tobiyaki on the mune\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 76 cm \/ 29.92 in (over 2 shaku 5 sun)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.2 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 33 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.4 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at tip (sakihaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 22.8 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at tip (sakikasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.8 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 880 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (without scabbard):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1,190 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshly polished, essentially flawless; a ~16 mm patch of black rust near the mune-machi; ji and ha very sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e period koshirae — aogai (blue-shell) scattered black-lacquer saya, maki-same hilt, openwork tsuba (pine\/plum motifs), dragon menuki, fine fuchi-kashira\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorokushō (Japanese registration) No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tokyo 179453\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53596524740971,"sku":"611-ATQSWD-tokyo179453","price":3800000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/tokyo179453_tadahiro_1.jpg?v=1784791414","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-shinto-era-katana-for-sale-tadahiro-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token-certificate-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}