A very beautiful and well-preserved Japanese sword from the Koto period has just arrived. There are no fatal flaws such as flaws or chips on the blade, and the sword is in very sound condition and has been fully sharpened.

Although unsigned, the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords recognized this katana as the work of Takada Kaji of the Koto period and issued a certificate of authenticity in 2023, stating that it is worthy of a hozon because of its excellent state of preservation. The Takada was a group of swordsmiths active in the Bungo-Takada area (present-day Oita City, Oita Prefecture) from the Kamakura period to the end of the Edo period.

Katanas made before the Nanbokucho period are known as Kotakada, those made in the Muromachi period are known as Taila Takada, and those made in the Edo period are known as Fujiwara Takada. This piece is from the Muromachi period and is a Taira Takada. It is assumed that the sword originally had a longer blade, but was shortened to its present length by suriage.

The hada has a good mix of mokume with itame, the best part of the Koto period work, and the yubashiri and chikei are very pleasing to the eye. Hamon is a wide gunome with midare mixed in here and there, and nie is well compacted. The work is elegant and yet has a strong sense of quality, with sunagashi and chojiashi. The shape of the boshi is in the form of a nakamaru. Both sides of the blade are engraved with hi, making it suitable for iai use. It is equipped with a shirasaya koshirae. If you wish to have uchigatana koshirae, it is possible for an additional fee (from 200,000 yen).

This is a Japanese sword from the Koto period that is very much worth acquiring, both for appreciation and for practical use. Do not miss this opportunity.

• Blade length: 72.3 cm
• Curvature: 1.9 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 2
• Sakihaba: 23.3 mm
• Sakikasane: 4.8 mm
• Motohaba: 30.9 mm
• Motokasane: 5.8 mm
• Signature: No signature
• Era: Koto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jitetsu: Itame with partly Mokume
• Hamon: Gunome Midare
• Boshi: Massugu Haitte Nakamaru ni Kaeru
• Weight(Blade only): 720 g
• Nakago: Suriage
  
• Koshirae: Shirasaya
• Original Registration No.: Oita 30429

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