Naganao長直

Aoe school · Bitchū province · active 1288-1293

Hawley reference NAG367
Hawley
15
points — scale 15 (recorded) to 500+ (legendary)

Smith record

EraShoō (1288-1293)
Active period1288-1293
ProvinceBitchū
School / traditionAoe
Hawley IDNAG367

Recorded signatures (mei)

備中國長直bitchu kuni naganao
長直naganao

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About these ratings

Hawley points come from W. M. Hawley's Japanese Swordsmiths (1981), the standard Western reference cataloguing over 12,000 smiths. Most recorded smiths sit at 15–20 points; only a few dozen legendary masters exceed 150.

Fujishiro grades (from Nihon Tōkō Jiten) rank workmanship from Chū saku up to Sai-jō saku, while the Tōkō Taikan valuation (Tokuno, 1977) reflects each smith's relative market standing in yen. Explore more smiths in the searchable swordsmith index.

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Every blade in our collection is an original antique Japanese sword, sourced in Japan — including works in the Aoe tradition when available.

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