AS25584 Katana：Shoji Jirotaro Fujiwara Naokatsu Dated: May, 1856 (Ansei 3, Hinoe-Tatsu) – First Generation (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25584

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Shoji Jirotaro Fujiwara Naokatsu
Dated: May, 1856 (Ansei 3, Hinoe-Tatsu) – First Generation
庄司次郎太郎藤原直勝(初代)
安政三年丙辰五月日

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku (Upper-Upper Grade) among the works by Shoji Jirotaro Fujiwara Naokatsu.
Habaki:
Blade Length: 2 shaku 2 sun 1 bu – 66.9 cm (26.34 in)
Curvature: 5 bu – 1.5 cm (0.59 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.09 cm (1.22 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.48 cm (0.98 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.59 cm (0.23 in)
Sword Weight: 675 g
Shape: The blade has a slightly wide body, thick kasane, deep curvature, and an extended kissaki, showing excellent form.
Jigane: Ko-itame hada, very well-forged with refined steel.
Hamon: Saka-choji midare continues from the hamachi to the boshi.

Features: Shoji Jirotaro Fujiwara Naokatsu served the Akimoto family in Tatebayashi, Joshu. He was originally called Kazusa Jiro, later known as Jirotaro. He lived in Shitaya, Edo, and became the adopted son of Naotane. He passed away on July 22, 1858, at the age of 54. Naokatsu died the year after Naotane’s death. Some evaluations regard Naokatsu’s work as superior to that of Naotane.

Aoi Art’s Comment: “Ansei 3, Hinoe-Tatsu, May” corresponds to May of 1856 in the Gregorian calendar. This refers to the date in the old Japanese calendar.

Historical Context: In Ansei 5 (1858), significant events occurred such as the Ansei Purge, signing of the US-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce, the founding of Keio Gijuku by Yukichi Fukuzawa, the Hida-Ichikawa Earthquake, and a major cholera epidemic. These incidents marked a transitional period from the late Edo period to the Meiji era, where the Tokugawa shogunate’s political structure began to collapse.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper
Whole Oshigata