A DAIMYO FAMILY SHIMOSA NO KAMI KUNIYOSHI KATANA
This sword was sold at The Okinawa Sword Show Vol. III
Overview (full text description follows photos)
Type: Katana (Unsigned)
Item No.: ujka015
Swordsmith: Shimosa no Kami Kuniyoshi (下総守國義)
Period: Early Edo Period (~1650)
Location: Shimosa (present-day northern Chiba and southern Ibaraki prefectures)
Length: 63cm
Curvature: 2.1cm
Hamon: Midareba (random waves)
Koshirae: Matching dragons for the fuchi-kashira (collar/pommel) signed by Goto in Edo period
Habaki: Expertly crafted silver inlay
Certification: NBTHK Hozon (A sword designated worthy of conserving by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords)
Included: Hozon certificate, koshirae (mountings), traditional katana carry bag, sword maintenance kit, illustrated maintenance guide, sword stand, full exportation support to send sword to home country
This sword has been sold
Photos (click for larger view)
*All photos taken professionally by Eric Bossick for Unique Japan
Description:
Blessed with an elegant curvature, this is a katana that embodies the very essence of quality sword making in the Edo period.
Under the Tokugawa regime from 1615 to 1868, Japan was ruled by Daimyo (literally ‘great names’, feudal lords), each of whom built castles in the provinces they were entrusted with.
Towns sprang up around these castles, to become centres of industry and commerce. The demand for swords had fallen with the cessation of civil war, so that only the best smiths were able to continue in business, and the best of these were retained by the provincial daimyo.
Swordsmith Kuniyoshi (born Sakunojo Suzuki), was originally from Hyuga no Kuni (currently Miyazaki prefecture). At the start of the Edo period, he traveled to Osaka and became a pupil of the great master Izumi no Kami Kunisada.
Recognizing his extraordinary talents, Kuniyoshi was retained by the Kamei Daimyo family. The first kanji character of his name “Kuni” would have been passed down from his master sensei “Izumi no Kami Kunisada”.
The honorary title of “Kami” (god, the highest rank) was bestowed upon the swordsmith by the daimyo family after years of service.
This elegant katana is attributed to Kuniyoshi by the NBTHK and given Hozon conservation status. As it was customary to not sign swords made for daimyo within castle grounds, it was almost certainly produced during this (the pinnacle) of his career.
This katana was registered on April 3, 1951 (Showa 26), which is important as this is the first year that Japanese swords were officially recorded and registered in Japan. ONLY prestigious swords from Daimyo families were invited to be registered on this extremely symbolic year.
The jihada (body of the blade) comprises of a very tight itame (wood grain) appearance. The grain is so fine, it’s nearly invisible to the naked eye (muji hada), which is the ultimate in desirability.
This near perfection in body composition can only be achieved if the folding process during the manufacture of the blade is performed to the absolute highest standards.
The hamon (temper line) is a slightly wavy midare-ba. Holding this sword to the light will reveal a most beautiful cluster of nioi (milky way crystals) spanning along the surface of the blade.
Further complimenting the sword is an exquisite collection of Edo-period koshirae mounts. The highlight of which are the signed fuchi-kashira (collar and pommel) of Japanese dragons by Goto-sensei.
This is a top quality Daimyo katana offered at a reasonable price from this remarkable period of Japanese history. PK
Questions?
To request further information or secure ownership of this sword, please contact me, Pablo Kuntz.
For steps toward ownership including all payment options, visit 5 Easy Steps to Owning an Authentic Japanese Samurai Sword.
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