Item No.: ujka100 & ujwa112

Type: Daisho (katana and wakizashi)

Swordsmith: Koyama Munetsugu

Location: Musashi Province (Tokyo)

Period: Late Edo period (1861 & 1863)

Length: 79.6cm (katana) & 44.8cm (wakizashi)

Curvature: 0.8cm and 1.5cm

Jihada (surface skin): Clear and beautiful ko-itame

Nakago (tang): ubu-nakago

Koshirae: Custom Dragon Daisho koshirae with Edo-period fittings

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate (a sword designated as Especially Worthy of Conservation by the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword)

NTHK-NPO Yushuto Certificate (a sword designated as Masterwork by the Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword)

This daisho has been SOLD

Behold a daisho of grand proportions.

This project has been in the making for much of 2014. Koyama Munetsugu is a maestro from the Shinshinto period, arguably the finest smith working in the Bizen tradition. The two swords that comprise this daisho are absolute gems.

The wakizashi is made in the structure of a Nagamaki naoshi with a large kissaki featuring a jizo-boshi. The katana is 4mm shy of an incredible 80cm cutting edge with a fabulous bo-hi (groove) extending the length of the blade to lighten this daito (grand sword).

The custom built daisho koshirae features formidable water dragons and phoenix depicted on the tsubas. The hilt and sageo are blue as the client has lived and worked near the ocean all his life. It shows a deep respect for the beauty, flexibility and power of water.

Born in 1802 in Shirakawa, Oshu, younger brother of Koyama Tadatsuna, Koyama Munetsugu was a member of the Kato Tsunahide Mon and studied under Tsunahide’s younger brother Chounsai Tsunatoshi.

Munetsugu went to Edo and worked as a retained swordsmith of Lord Matsudaira of the Kuwana family.

Munetsugu is rated by Fujishiro Jo-jo saku (highly superior smith) making him, without a doubt, one of the top smiths of the Shinshinto period.

What makes these swords extra special is that they were made towards the end of his illustrious career. The katana was produced in November 1863 (surely one of his last of swords at this length) and the wakizashi dated in May of 1861.

Interestingly enough, Munetsugu modified his nakago yasurime (file marks on the tang) from o-sujikai (greatly angled) early in his career to kiri (horizontal) in his twilight years. Note that both of these swords have a kiri nakago as they were completed when he was about 60 years old.

Also, any sword with o-kissaki by Munetsugu (as found on the wakizashi) must be considered very rare indeed as his blades tended to have a chu-kissaki.

Like all great master swordsmiths that worked centuries before Munetsugu, both the form and function of the blade meet at the very finest of levels.

A perfect harmony of beautiful workmanship, exquisite balance and a high-degree of cutting ability.

As such, both swords have achieved the prestigious rank of NTHK-NPO Yushuto (the sword organization’s highest honour, liken to NBTHK Juyo Token).

It was a great pleasure to complete this daisho for our client. It is certainly one that will be treasured for generations.

Pablo Kuntz
Founder, Unique Japan

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