{"id":29858,"date":"2026-01-15T10:17:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T01:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/?post_type=product&p=29858"},"modified":"2026-01-15T10:17:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T01:17:41","slug":"as25635-katana%ef%bc%9akin-zogan-mei-rai-kunitoshi-honami-kao-red-signature-mitsutada-unclear-red-inscription-25th-nbthk-tokubetsu-juyo-token","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/product\/29858\/as25635-katana%ef%bc%9akin-zogan-mei-rai-kunitoshi-honami-kao-red-signature-mitsutada-unclear-red-inscription-25th-nbthk-tokubetsu-juyo-token\/","title":{"rendered":"AS25635 Katana\uff1a(Kin Zogan Mei) Rai Kunitoshi Hon’ami (Ka\u014d) (Red signature) (Mitsutada) (Unclear red inscription) (25th NBTHK Tokubetsu Juyo Token)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ordering number:AS25635<\/p>\n

Katana in Shirasaya (25th NBTHK Tokubetsu Juyo Token)<\/p>\n

Signature: (Kin Zogan Mei) Rai Kunitoshi
\nHon’ami (Ka\u014d) (Red signature) (Mitsutada)
\n(Unclear red inscription)
\n(\u91d1\u8c61\u5d4c\u9298)\u6765\u56fd\u4fca
\n\u672c\u963f(\u82b1\u62bc)(\u6731\u9298)(\u5149\u5fe0)
\n(\u6731\u66f8\u4e0d\u660e)<\/p>\n

Sayagaki: By Mr. Tanobe
\nDesignated as the 40th Juyo Token
\nRai Kunitoshi of J\u014dsh\u016b.
\nThe blade is \u014d-suriage with a kin zogan attribution by Hon\u2019ami Mitsutada.
\nAlso accompanied by an origami (authentication paper) by Hon\u2019ami Mitsuhisa dated An’ei 3 (1774).
\nIt displays an elegant and dignified shape, with a refined jigane and a calm straight hamon.
\nThe attribution is most appropriate.
\nA healthy and highly refined masterpiece.
\nRare and extremely valuable.
\nBlade length: just under 2 shaku 4 sun 5 bu
\nKinoe-uma year (\u7532\u5348, 2014)
\nSigned: Tanzan Henmichi (ka\u014d)<\/p>\n

Koto: Saijyo Saku: Yamashiro
\nExcellent Cutter (\u014cwazamono): Yamashiro<\/p>\n

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
\nThis work is ranked as Saijyo Saku among the works attributed to (Kin Zogan Mei) Rai Kunitoshi.<\/p>\n

Habaki: Silver base engraved with bird and kiri-mon.<\/p>\n

Blade Length: 74.1 cm (29.17 in)
\nCurvature: 2.1 cm (0.83 in)
\nMekugi Hole: 4
\nWidth at Base (Motohaba): 2.86 cm (1.13 in)
\nWidth at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.75 cm (0.69 in)
\nThickness of rim (Kasane): 0.71 cm (0.28 in)
\nSword Weight: 755 g
\nEra: Late Kamakura period, around the Sh\u014dwa era (1312\u20131317)
\nShape:The blade has slightly wide mihaba, solid kasane, and deep sori, with a rather narrow kissaki.
\nJigane:Well-forged ko-itame with ji-nie and visible utsuri.
\nHamon:A nioi-based straight hamon, bright and clear.
\nA refined and elegant piece of high dignity.<\/p>\n

Features:This sword was designated as the 40th Juyo Token in 1994 (Heisei 6), and later passed the 25th Tokubetsu Juyo Token in May 2, 2018 (Heisei 30).
\nRai Kunitoshi is believed to be the son of Rai Kunitoshi.
\nThere are signatures with both two characters \u201cKunitoshi\u201d and three characters \u201cRai Kunitoshi\u201d, and scholars debate whether these refer to the same or different individuals.
\nAlthough no firm conclusion has been reached, differences in workmanship allow for practical differentiation.
\nThe two-character \u201cKunitoshi\u201d often features powerful styles with itame and ch\u014dji-midare hamon, while \u201cRai Kunitoshi\u201d tends to have straight or small ch\u014dji-midare hamon.
\nConsidering the production periods, it is not unreasonable to believe they may be the same person, and the unified theory has been gaining support in recent years, though some still advocate for them being different smiths.
\nThis blade is an \u014d-suriage mumei piece with a kin zogan attribution to Rai Kunitoshi by Hon\u2019ami Mitsutada.
\nIt features strong koshi-zori with an elegant, graceful silhouette that tapers toward the tip, showcasing a calm and refined straight hamon with a clear nioiguchi.
\nThe well-forged ko-itame hada is brightly golden and exquisitely refined.
\nFurthermore, the jigane and hamon are both in excellent condition.
\nNote: Although the Juyo Token certificate mentions an origami by Hon\u2019ami Mitsuhisa, it is not currently included.<\/p>\n

Historical Context:
\nLate Kamakura period, around the Sh\u014dwa era (1312\u20131317)
\nIn Japanese history, this period saw a shift in power within the Kamakura shogunate.
\nAfter the death of the 10th regent H\u014dj\u014d Morotoki, H\u014dj\u014d Munenobu became the 11th regent, but retired and died only 8 months later.
\nH\u014dj\u014d Hirotoki then served as interim regent until H\u014dj\u014d Takatoki, still a child, inherited leadership of the Tokus\u014d family.
\nDuring this time, real political power was held by Nagasaki Enki (the naikanry\u014d) and Adachi Tokiaki (a maternal relative), marking the beginning of unstable governance under the Tokus\u014d autocracy.<\/p>\n

25th NBTHK Tokubetsu Juyo Token
\nAoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ordering number:AS25635 Katana in Shirasaya (25th NBTHK Tokubetsu Juyo Token) Signature: (Kin Zogan Mei) Rai Kunitoshi Hon’ami (Ka\u014d) (Red signature) (Mitsutada) (Unclear red inscription) (\u91d1\u8c61\u5d4c\u9298)\u6765\u56fd\u4fca \u672c\u963f(\u82b1\u62bc)(\u6731\u9298)(\u5149\u5fe0) (\u6731\u66f8\u4e0d\u660e) Sayagaki: By Mr. Tanobe Designated as the 40th Juyo Token Rai Kunitoshi of J\u014dsh\u016b. The blade is \u014d-suriage with a kin zogan attribution by Hon\u2019ami Mitsutada. Also accompanied […]\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-29858","product","type-product","status-publish","hentry","product_cat-katana-en","product_cat-sword-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/29858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}