{"id":30189,"date":"2026-02-10T12:50:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T03:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/?post_type=product&p=30189"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:44:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T04:44:39","slug":"as25454-wakizashi-sunnobi-tanto-bishu-osafune-motomitsu-%e2%97%bb%ef%b8%8e-wa-ni-ni-gatsu-%e2%97%bb%ef%b8%8e-interpreted-as-bunna-4th-year-5th-month-may-1355-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/product\/30189\/as25454-wakizashi-sunnobi-tanto-bishu-osafune-motomitsu-%e2%97%bb%ef%b8%8e-wa-ni-ni-gatsu-%e2%97%bb%ef%b8%8e-interpreted-as-bunna-4th-year-5th-month-may-1355-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token\/","title":{"rendered":"AS25454 Wakizashi (Sunnobi Tanto): Bishu Osafune Motomitsu \u25fb\ufe0e Wa Shi Gatsu \u25fb\ufe0e (Interpreted as: Bunna 4th year, 5th month May, 1355) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ordering Number: AS25454<\/p>\n

Wakizashi (Sunnobi Tanto): in Shirasaya with Koshirae (Tokubetsu Hozon Token)<\/p>\n

Signature: Bishu Osafune Motomitsu
\n\u25fb\ufe0e Wa Shi Gatsu\u25fb\ufe0e (Interpreted as: Bunna 4th year, 5th month May, 1355)<\/p>\n

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
\nThis sword is ranked as Jyojyo Saku.<\/p>\n

Habaki: Plain copper, single-layered
\nBlade Length: 30.8 cm (12.13 in)
\nCurvature: 0.4 cm (0.16 in)
\nMekugi Hole: 3
\nWidth at Base (Motohaba): 2.65 cm (1.04 in)
\nThickness of rim (Kasane): 0.68 cm (0.27 in)
\nSword Weight: 130 g<\/p>\n

Shape:
\nA slightly extended tanto with a slightly wide body and a blade length of 30.8 cm.
\nBoth sides are carved with bohi (grooves).<\/p>\n

Jigane:
\nWell-forged small itame hada with a tight grain and a visible utsuri.<\/p>\n

Hamon:
\nNioi-deki with a gunome-midare pattern.
\nThe boshi is pointed and returns in komaru style.<\/p>\n

Features:
\nBishu Osafune Motomitsu was an early Muromachi swordsmith active during the Nanbokucho period.
\nThe hamon of this sword is listed in Fujishiro Sensei\u2019s volume on Koto swords.
\nIt displays a softly undulating gunome-midare pattern with prominent utsuri.<\/p>\n

Koshirae: Aikuchi Koshirae<\/p>\n

Menuki: Carved with human figures<\/p>\n

Fuchikashira and Kojiri: Iron base inlaid with gold plant motifs<\/p>\n

Saya (Scabbard): Black stone-textured lacquer (ishimeji)<\/p>\n

Kozuka: Shakudo nanakoji base with a design of a spiny lobster, detailed with gold iroe<\/p>\n

Comes with a kogatana (small knife)<\/p>\n

Aoi Art\u2019s Comment:
\nFrom the Kamakura to Nanbokucho period, the shape of tanto gradually changed.
\nGenerally, the body became slightly wider and the thickness thinner.
\nBizen swords often exhibit gently rounded gunome-midare patterns.
\nThe date is interpreted as “Bunna 4th year, 5th month” (May, 1355), which predates the Enbun and J\u014dji eras.
\nAlthough the character for “Bun” is unclear, we interpreted it as Bunna rather than J\u014dji.<\/p>\n

Historical Context:
\nThis piece originates from Japan\u2019s Nanbokucho period, a time of civil unrest during which two imperial courts\u2014the Northern and Southern Courts\u2014competed for legitimacy.
\nThe Bunna era was used by the Northern Court after Ashikaga Takauji established the Muromachi Shogunate.
\nThis era followed the Kan\u2019\u014d Disturbance and marked intensifying conflict between the two courts.<\/p>\n

Tokubetsu Hozon Token
\nAoi Art Estimation Paper: Whole Oshigata included<\/p>\n

Overseas shipping fee not included<\/p>\n

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

Ordering Number: AS25454 Wakizashi (Sunnobi Tanto): in Shirasaya with Koshirae (Tokubetsu Hozon Token) Signature: Bishu Osafune Motomitsu \u25fb\ufe0e Wa Shi Gatsu\u25fb\ufe0e (Interpreted as: Bunna 4th year, 5th month May, 1355) We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku. This sword is ranked as Jyojyo Saku. Habaki: […]\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-30189","product","type-product","status-publish","hentry","product_cat-sword-en","product_cat-tanto-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sword-auction.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/30189","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=30189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}