MarkP01

1. GENERAL • Period: Edo period, Kanbun era (1661-1673) • Certificate: NBTHK Hozon, original • Torokusho (registration certificate), copy, original stays in Japan • Imported from Japan • Location of the item: Croatia, Zagreb • More photos available on request 2. FEATURES • Nakago: ubu, kurijiri • Mei: Sagami no kami Fujiwara Hiroshige • Nagasa: 63.60 cm (total length 92.50 cm) • Sori: 0.90 cm • Motohaba: 3.10 cm • Tsukuri-komi: Shinogi-zukuri • Jihada: Mokume-hada • Hamon: Gunome midare • Mune: Iori-mune • Weight: 1.1 kg • Traditional protective cover and maintenance set included 3. SMITH'S HISTORY (Sagami no kami Fujiwara Hiroshige) • School: Shitahara (worked for Tokugawa klan), location: Hachioji (present day Tokio), founder: Chikashige, beginning of the 16th century (Muromachi period) • The smith is second generation and was awarded the title Sagami-no-kami (lord of Sagami) • His father founded his own branch of the Shitahara school in 1635 (Kan'ei era) 4. PRICE • When I was buying this sword, my total costs were 2.850 EUR (sword, shipping, VAT, maintenance kit), so I would be happy to get that price or slightly above

Thanks to everyone for providing such useful info and links. The last question: are the small dots on the photo nie or rust? Their color appears to be slightly brownish/reddish. If it's rust, is it possible to get rid of it in a noninvasive way?

One more question and one more information: In my inexperienced eye, the boshi is not pronounced, it's only slightly visible. What does it usually mean? Below is the excerpt from the aforementioned book - I've noticed some correspondence with the sword.

Dear Jonathan, thanks a lot for the information. Yes, I found out similar history. But, I haven't found out what ''sagami-no-kami'' title means, could you please explain?

Dear Geraint, thank you very much for your detailed response. Regarding the koshirae, yes, I suppose it was made recently. I’m not sure about the fuchi, menuki and habaki though. I’m attaching the photos, so feel free to comment if you have anything to add. The sword did not come with shirasaya. It seems that the NBTHK paper does not go into detail about the period.

Hello guys, I am a newcomer to this forum. The amount of information and helpfulness of other is really great here. Anyway, I bought a katana recently and I am curious to learn more about the blade and the koshirae (the seller couldn't provide a more detailed insight). What would you say about their condition and quality? Early analysis indicate an early Edo period blade - is it possible that saya and tsuka ito is from that period also? They look rather new. Mei: Sagami no kami Fujiwara Hiroshige NBTHK Hozon certificate I've found some info about the swordsmith on this forum, on the web and in the book. In the ''The connoisseur's book of Japanese sword'' I've found a section about the Shitahara school, where Hiroshige is mentioned and there is a description of school's sugata, jihada, hamon, boshi, horimono and nakago. For now I am not thinking about selling, but maybe in the future I will and buy another one. Thanks in advance, Marko