AS25576 Katana ：Echigo Kami Kanesada(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token) Koshirae: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)Tsuba: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)Fuchikashira: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)Menuki: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)

Ordering number:AS25576

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token) Koshirae: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)Tsuba: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)Fuchikashira: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)Menuki: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)

Signature: Echigo Kami Kanesada
越後守包貞

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This piece is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Echigo no Kami Kanesada.
Habaki: Silver foiled single Habaki.
Blade Length: 69.8 cm (27.48 in).
Curvature: 1.0 cm (0.39 in).
Mekugi Hole: 1.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.14 cm (1.24 in).
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.10 cm (0.83 in).
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.74 cm (0.29 in).
Sword Weight: 710 grams.
Shape: The blade has standard width and thickness, with a slightly deeper curvature and an extended kissaki, resulting in a well-balanced shape.
Jigane: The steel has ji-nie and is well-forged.
Hamon: Starts with a straight hamon from the hamachi, then transitions into gunome-midare. The nioiguchi is deep, and the blade shows a refined jigane. The boshi turns back in a round shape. From the hamachi, the straight hamon continues, with a deep nioiguchi, indicating a well-made piece.

Features: Echigo no Kami Kanesada imitated the style of the second-generation Sukehira, producing gunome-midare.
While Sukehira’s hamon features gentle notare-midare, Kanesada’s works are somewhat more vigorous, often showing deep nioiguchi and sunagashi within the blade.

Koshirae: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)
Tsuba: Round iron tsuba with engraved paulownia crest, decorated with gold and silver inlay.
Unsigned (Shoami) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)
Fuchikashira: Shakudo nanako ground with engraved paulownia crest, decorated with gold inlay.
Unsigned (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)
Saya (Scabbard): Black lacquer saya.
Menuki: Shakudo with engraved paulownia crest, decorated with gold inlay.　Unsigned (Goto) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)

Aoi Art’s Comment: This is a robust piece featuring a deep nioiguchi and a clear notare-midare hamon.
Similar works were also produced by Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehira.

Historical Background: During the Edo period, sword production declined significantly.
Samurai took on the role of regular officials, attending and leaving the castle in formal attire.
It became customary to carry both a katana and wakizashi.
As a result, tantō were no longer considered necessary, and the daishō (katana and wakizashi pair) became standard.
Because of this, the production of tantō significantly decreased from the early to late Edo period, only to rise again toward the end of the era.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token
Koshirae: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)
Tsuba: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)
Fuchikashira: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)
Menuki: (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kodogu)
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata