Japanese antique Katana Kanenaga signed Mei NBTHK papers for sale Katanacenter Nihonto art

Long Katana 刀 Shinto Kanenaga signed Mei 署名 NBTHK attested

Sakura 桜 (cherry blossoms) Koshirae

Katana blade:

Nagasa: 70,4 cm
Motohaba: 3,1 cm.
Sakihaba: 2,3 cm.
Motogasane: 0,7 cm.
Sakigasane: 0,55 cm.
Sori: 1,4 cm.
Swordsmith according to Japanese certifications: Kanenaga
Estimated Age: Edo period 江戸時代 Shinto 信徒エラ Kanei 寛永 era after Genna and before Shōhō.

Years from February 1624 through December 1644. Emperors and Empress were Go-Mizunoo-tennō (後水尾天皇), Meishō-tennō (明正天皇) and Go-Kōmyō-tennō (後光明天皇)

Estimated School:

Dōtanuki 同田貫
Higo province

About this Katana blade:

The original documentation (NBTHK) testifies to the authenticity in terms of being an ancient Nihonto Kanana blade from the Shin-to period and being the authentic signature Kanenaga, but the School remains undefined which, according to various studies, may be the Dōtanuki (同田貫) or the Tegai .
My personal opinion which is supported after consultation with a member of the Japanese NTKK and also with the family origin information of the former Japanese owner due to the characteristics of the blade, the very prestigious Dōtanuki school (同田貫) with a small number of forgers that has a known origin in the mythical Enju Kunimura (延寿国村) seems most likely.

Also the other Japapanese original documentation the card (Kyoiku-inkai) reproduces the signature (Mei) of the Nakago as a precise identification of belonging.

It is an aesthetically very slender and beautiful blade, but it proves to be very strong and resistant, something typical of a good battle Katana blade made in its time for real use in combat.

The Dōtanuki battle swords:

The Dōtanuki 同田貫 School evolved in Higo Province, with its roots traced back to the famous "Enju Kunimura" (延寿国村). Enju Kunimura founded the Higo Enju school in 1305. Kunimaura was born in Yamato province, the son of swordsmith (tosho) Hiromura. He migrated to Yamashiro province, became a student of Rai Kuniyuki, and later married Kuniyuki's daughter. Kunimura later migrated to Higo and founded the Enju school. Only six Kunimura blades are known to exist.
The Dotanuki school emerged in the small village of Higo in the mid-16th century, making do with Enju's blacksmiths and masters when Enju closed at the end of the Koto period. The founder of the Dotanuki school was Dotanuki Masakuni, he was called Oyama Kozuke no Suke although his original signature (before Dotanuki) was Nobuyoshi. The famous General Katō Kiyomasa granted Masakuni the honor of using a character (kanji) of his name, and Nobuyoshi was known as Masakuni ever since.
Dotanuki swords quickly gained great popularity among the warrior class, due to their vastly superior cutting ability. Dotanuki's smiths didn't care much for aesthetics; instead, they focused on strength, cutting ability, and durability in the field. They were renowned for producing blades that could withstand the harshest conditions, the most difficult battle conditions, and survive to return to combat day after day, year after year. It is known that Nobunaga himself had a Dotanuki reserved as a battle sword. There are records that mercenary clans, especially the two most powerful Shinobi (historical ninja) clans, Iga and Kōga, acquired these blades from the Muromachi period, until the massacre and extermination of the Iga clan in 1581. The Kōga, on the other hand, they continued to be used in the service of Nobunaga's Shogunate, at least until the Shimabara rebellion in 1637, which is the last historical record of Kōga troops participating in the war.

Dotanuki Swordsmiths:
Dotanuki         同田貫    Tensho (1573-1592)
Kagemasa           景和      Keichō (1596-1615)
Kanenaga            包永     Kanei (1624-1644)
Kiyokuni              清國      Tensho (1573-1592)
Kōzukenosuke 上野介 Keichō (1596-1615)
Kunikatsu            國勝      Eiroku (1558-1570)
Masaaki               正明      Tensho (1573-1592)
Matahachi          又八      Tensho (1573-1592)
Muneharu          宗春      Keiō (1865-1868)
Munehiro            宗廣      Tenpō (1830-1844)
Nobuaki               信明      Tensho (1573-1592)
Nobukiyo            宣清      Shinto (1596-1781)
Nobunari             信作      Tensho (1573-1592)
Nobusuke           信助      Kanei (1624-1644)
Nobutoshi          延俊      Tensho (1573-1592)
Nobuyoshi          信吉      Ansei (1854-1860)
Noriyasu              則安      Tensho (1573-1592)
Samasuke           左馬介 Tensho (1573-1592)
Sukekuni             資國      Tensho (1573-1592)
Tadamitsu           忠光      Tensho (1573-1592)
Tadamitsu           忠光      Keichō (1596-1615)
Yoshikuni             吉國      Jōō (1652-1655)
Yoshinobu           賀信      Genki (1570-1573)

Blade condition:

The polishing is not recent, it seems to be from years ago but it is quite well preserved, some light signs of use and other ones but really not important, no fatal damages. Preserve a razor edged. A new polish does not seem necessary.

Koshirae:

Sakura (cherry blossom) theme

Tsuka:
Wood: Honoki (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress)
Fuchi/Kashira: Gold 黄金 cherry blossom
Menuki couple: mythological beast Shishi
Same: Ray Skin
Ito: Brown natural Silk

Tsuba:
Wrought iron in open work. Depicting Sakura (cherry blossom)
Estimated age: Edo 江戸時代 Tokugawa period 徳川時代

Habaki 鎺:
Old copper work

Saya:
Wood: Honoki (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress)
Kurikata Shitodome couple: Silver
Black natural Urushi lacquered
Sageo: Wine Silk

Koshirae condition:

Saya is recently restored, it seems. The Ito shows signs of having been the Katana wielded in the form of some dirt. In general the condition is good without any appreciable fault.

Kantei 鑑定 attested blade identification:

Nippon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK) 日本美術刀剣保存協会 Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords original Japanese certification of authenticity.

Hozon Token paper dated on the year 2016 says this is a Shin-to Katana Kanenaga signed Mei

and

Kyoiku-inkai - Japanese official documentation (paper previously called Daimyo) the document card that testifies to the sword ownership :

Sealed of Prefectural (Kyoiku-inkai) Registration Card In order to legally own a original sword in Japan it has to be registered in accordance with the Ju-to-ho 銃刀法 it is the original card including inscription in equivalent characters of the Katana Nakago Mei (Kanenaga signature) in order at inequivocal blade identification.

Daimyo Registered: This sword was registered in current sword registration system started in Japan in modern era. Such swords, which were registered in a few years after the system started, are known among collectors as "Daimyo" (feudal lord) registration swords as it was Daimyo or other Daimyo-like wealthy families who owned many precious swords and were asked by the Japanese government to register their swords in the early stage of the newly introduced registration system to familiarize it to the society but it is not the official name of course what is Kyoiku-inkai (Prefectural Registration Card)

Only Katana blade and Koshirae (with original Japanese papers of course) for sale, Katanakake (Katana stand) and others is not included.

Ref.: Katana 117

Would you like to have more info? Get in touch with us: