{"product_id":"katana102","title":"Antique Japanese Katana Sword by Kanabō Hayato no Jō Masazane with Gunome-Midare Hamon, Sakura Fittings and Red Lacquer Saya - NBTHK Hozon","description":"\u003c!-- KATANA102 — Tokyo Nihonto --\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"product\"\u003e\u003cheader\u003e\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"specs\"\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (Mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e金房隼人\u003c\/span\u003e (Kanabō Hayato), \u003cem\u003eomote\u003c\/em\u003e, the remainder of the signature lost when the tang was shortened. The NBTHK reads the full name as \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e隼人丞正真\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSwordsmith:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kanabō Hayato no Jō Masazane \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e金房隼人丞正真\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSchool \/ Tradition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kanabō \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e金房\u003c\/span\u003e school, Nara, Yamato tradition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod \/ Province:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Muromachi period, \u003cem\u003ekoto\u003c\/em\u003e, 16th century, Yamato Province (Nara)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate:\u003c\/strong\u003e NBTHK \u003cem\u003eHozon Token\u003c\/em\u003e no. 3038155, issued 1 December 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJapanese Registration (Tōroku-shō):\u003c\/strong\u003e Gifu no. 002558, originally issued 31 March 1951, reissued 5 February 2025\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Complete \u003cem\u003ekatana koshirae\u003c\/em\u003e, red-and-black textured lacquer \u003cem\u003esaya\u003c\/em\u003e, iron \u003cem\u003emokkō\u003c\/em\u003e tsuba, sakura \u003cem\u003efuchi-kashira\u003c\/em\u003e, gold chrysanthemum \u003cem\u003emenuki\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade Length (Nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 61.7 cm (2 \u003cem\u003eshaku\u003c\/em\u003e 0 \u003cem\u003esun\u003c\/em\u003e 3.5 \u003cem\u003ebu\u003c\/em\u003e, as recorded on the NBTHK certificate)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (Sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.4 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMekugi-ana:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape (Sugata):\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eShinogi-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eiori-mune\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003echū-kissaki\u003c\/em\u003e, shortened (\u003cem\u003esuriage\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJihada:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eItame\u003c\/em\u003e mixed with \u003cem\u003emokume\u003c\/em\u003e, with \u003cem\u003emasame\u003c\/em\u003e flowing along the \u003cem\u003eshinogi-ji\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eji-nie\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eGunome-midare\u003c\/em\u003e mixed with \u003cem\u003enotare\u003c\/em\u003e and pointed elements, \u003cem\u003enie-deki\u003c\/em\u003e, with \u003cem\u003eashi\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003esunagashi\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBōshi:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eMidare-komi\u003c\/em\u003e with a \u003cem\u003eko-maru\u003c\/em\u003e turn-back\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabaki:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single-piece copper, filed with diagonal \u003cem\u003eyasurime\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA signed katana by \u003cstrong\u003eKanabō Hayato no Jō Masazane\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e金房隼人丞正真\u003c\/span\u003e, the best-known name of the Kanabō school of Nara, papered \u003cstrong\u003eNBTHK Hozon\u003c\/strong\u003e in December 2025. The blade measures \u003cstrong\u003e61.7 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e with \u003cstrong\u003e1.4 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e of curvature and remains in a complete, recently restored period mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe signature survives on the \u003cem\u003eomote\u003c\/em\u003e of the tang as \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e金房隼人\u003c\/span\u003e, cut just above the tip. The rest of the inscription disappeared when the blade was shortened, which the NBTHK records as \u003cem\u003eika kiri\u003c\/em\u003e (以下切, \"cut below\"), before reading the full name as \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e隼人丞正真\u003c\/span\u003e. That kind of partially surviving signature is typical of late Muromachi blades that stayed in service and were adapted to the fighting style of the following generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shape is a \u003cem\u003eshinogi-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e katana with an \u003cem\u003eiori-mune\u003c\/em\u003e and a \u003cem\u003echū-kissaki\u003c\/em\u003e. At 61.7 cm and with a shallow curvature, it has the compact, quick profile of the \u003cem\u003euchigatana\u003c\/em\u003e carried in the late 16th century, when swords were drawn and used with one hand as often as two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hamon is the main event: a lively \u003cem\u003egunome-midare\u003c\/em\u003e mixed with \u003cem\u003enotare\u003c\/em\u003e and pointed elements, in \u003cem\u003enie-deki\u003c\/em\u003e, with \u003cem\u003eashi\u003c\/em\u003e running down into the edge and streaks of \u003cem\u003esunagashi\u003c\/em\u003e through the \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e. It continues into the point as \u003cem\u003emidare-komi\u003c\/em\u003e and turns back in a \u003cem\u003eko-maru\u003c\/em\u003e. This is the Mino-influenced, practical temper the Kanabō smiths were known for, rather than the quiet straight temper of older Yamato work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe steel is an \u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e mixed with \u003cem\u003emokume\u003c\/em\u003e, with \u003cem\u003emasame\u003c\/em\u003e flowing along the \u003cem\u003eshinogi-ji\u003c\/em\u003e and visible \u003cem\u003eji-nie\u003c\/em\u003e, the standing, slightly open grain typical of late Yamato forging. The tang carries a deep, even age patina and two \u003cem\u003emekugi-ana\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"koshirae\"\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKoshirae Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003esaya\u003c\/em\u003e is the first thing anyone sees: a striking red-and-black textured lacquer that reads like the grain of weathered wood, finished with black horn \u003cem\u003ekoiguchi\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ekurigata\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ekojiri\u003c\/em\u003e, and dressed with a deep crimson \u003cem\u003esageo\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003etsuba\u003c\/em\u003e is iron, in a four-lobed \u003cem\u003emokkō\u003c\/em\u003e shape, with a dark, dense patina and fine engraving worn soft by age; what appears to be a dragonfly (\u003cem\u003etombo\u003c\/em\u003e) is engraved at the top of one face. Dragonflies were a favourite samurai emblem, the \u003cem\u003ekachi-mushi\u003c\/em\u003e or \"victory insect\", because they only fly forward. Both \u003cem\u003ehitsu-ana\u003c\/em\u003e are plugged and copper \u003cem\u003esekigane\u003c\/em\u003e sit in the central opening. An engraved inscription is visible beside the \u003cem\u003eseppa-dai\u003c\/em\u003e but is too worn to read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003efuchi\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ekashira\u003c\/em\u003e are a matching pair, dark metal carved to imitate rough tree bark, scattered with falling cherry blossoms in gold. The \u003cem\u003emenuki\u003c\/em\u003e are gold chrysanthemums with leaves, set under a black silk wrap in \u003cem\u003ehineri-maki\u003c\/em\u003e over white \u003cem\u003esame\u003c\/em\u003e, with a prominent \u003cem\u003eoyatsubu\u003c\/em\u003e nodule on the \u003cem\u003eomote\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wrap and the lacquer are in excellent, fresh condition, a professional modern restoration built around genuine Edo-period metal fittings. The \u003cem\u003ehabaki\u003c\/em\u003e is single-piece copper filed with diagonal \u003cem\u003eyasurime\u003c\/em\u003e, and the pair of \u003cem\u003eseppa\u003c\/em\u003e have coin-edge filing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"smith-background\"\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Swordsmith: Kanabō Hayato no Jō Masazane \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e金房隼人丞正真\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMasazane is the leading name of the Kanabō school, a group of smiths who lived in the \u003cstrong\u003eKanabō-tsuji\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e金房辻\u003c\/span\u003e district of Nara, in front of Kōfuku-ji, and took the name of the street as their family name. He signed with the court title \u003cem\u003eHayato no Jō\u003c\/em\u003e (also written \u003cem\u003eHayato no Suke\u003c\/em\u003e), and his known signatures include \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e南都住金房隼人丞正真作\u003c\/span\u003e, \"made by Kanabō Hayato no Jō Masazane, resident of Nanto (Nara)\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJapanese references place the first Masazane around the Tenbun era (1532–1555), with a second generation of the same name recorded around Tenshō (1573–1592). The NBTHK certificate attributes this blade to Hayato no Jō Masazane without naming a generation, and we do not claim one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Kanabō smiths are remembered above all for their spears. Their \u003cem\u003eyari\u003c\/em\u003e and cross-bladed \u003cem\u003ejūmonji-yari\u003c\/em\u003e armed the warrior monks of the Hōzō-in, the temple that gave its name to one of the most famous spear schools in Japanese history, and many Sengoku warlords besides. Their katana are less common and are valued for the same qualities: sturdy, sharp, made to be used.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"school-history\"\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Kanabō School and Late Yamato\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYamato, the old Nara region, is the oldest of the five classical sword traditions, built around the great temples and their armed monks. Its classic style is conservative: straight grain, a restrained straight temper. The Kanabō school, which appears in the early 16th century, broke with that convention. Working for temple forces and warlords in the middle of the Sengoku wars, its smiths borrowed freely from the Mino and Bizen traditions and produced practical, hard-cutting blades with active \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e tempers. This katana shows exactly that mix: Yamato steel under a Mino-style hamon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is offered here is a signed late Muromachi katana by Kanabō Hayato no Jō Masazane, papered NBTHK Hozon, registered in Japan since 1951, complete in a restored koshirae with a red textured-lacquer saya, sakura fuchi-kashira and gold chrysanthemum menuki.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Tokyo Nihonto","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57332457177412,"sku":"KATANA102","price":5400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/4080\/8516\/files\/Katana102_350K_0037_GenerativeFill3.jpg?v=1790414820","url":"https:\/\/tokyo-nihonto.com\/it\/products\/katana102","provider":"Tokyo Nihonto","version":"1.0","type":"link"}