AS26124 Katana: Higo no Kuni Ju Hirosada (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering Number: AS26124

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Higo no Kuni Ju Hirosada
肥後国住広貞

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku).
This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Higo no Kuni Ju Hirosada.
Habaki: Double silver habaki.
Blade Length: 72.0 cm (28.35 in).
Curvature: 2.2 cm (0.87 in).
Mekugi Hole: 1.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.77 cm (1.09 in).
Width at Yokote: 1.70 cm (0.67 in).
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.61 cm (0.24 in).
Sword Weight: 670 g.
Era: Around the Kan’ei era (1624–1644), Edo period.
Shape: A blade with standard mihaba (width) and kasane (thickness), featuring deep and pronounced curvature.
Jigane: Well-forged ko-itame hada, with a slightly coarse texture in the shinogi-ji.
Hamon: Nie-deki with rounded gunome-midare.

Features: The signature “Higo no Kuni Ju Hirosada” is inscribed in the tachi-mei style.
During the Shinto period, swordsmiths of the Hizen school frequently used tachi-mei inscriptions.
The exceptionally deep curvature of this blade suggests that the swordsmith may have been strongly influenced by Hizen swordmaking traditions and deliberately sought to produce a blade in that style.

NBTHK Hozon Token.
AoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.