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Tokyo Nihonto

Antique Japanese Katana Sword by Shitahara - NBTHK Hozon

Antique Japanese Katana Sword by Shitahara - NBTHK Hozon

$2,900.00 USD
$2,900.00 USD
Sale SOLD
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  • Approved Authentic Item
  • Tamahagane Steel
  • Fully Insured Shipping

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  • Signature (Mei): Mumei
  • Swordsmith: Attributed to the 下原（Shitahara）group
  • School / Tradition: Shitahara school (Bushu / Musashi); Sōshū–Mino influenced workmanship
  • Period / Province: Muromachi period / Bushu (present-day Hachiōji, Tokyo)
  • Certificate: NBTHK Hozon（保存刀剣)
  • Mounting: Shirasaya; metal habaki, 22.9 g
  • Blade Length (Nagasa): 62.27 cm
  • Curvature (Sori): 0.76 cm
  • Mekugi-ana: 3
  • Shape: Shinogi-zukuri
  • Jihada: Fine koto jihada with Shitahara traits; look for jorinmoku (如輪杢) whirlpool figure in places
  • Blade Weight: 545.1 g (blade only)
  • Habaki Weight: 22.9 g
  • Saya Overall Length: 85.4 cm
  • Motohaba / Motokasane: 2.816 cm / 0.728 cm
  • Sakihaba / Sakikasane: 1.782 cm / 0.388 cm

A koto katana certified NBTHK Hozon and attributed to the Shitahara group of Bushu (Musashi). Measuring 62.27 cm in nagasa with a gentle 0.76 cm sori, the blade presents a dignified shinogi-zukuri profile and a well-forged jihada praised in the listing. Three mekugi-ana reflect remounting over a long service life while maintaining healthy proportions.

Shitahara blades often show steady forging with Sōshū–Mino influences. A hallmark to watch for is jorinmoku（如輪杢）—small whirlpool-like figures in the steel surface—seen on representative works by Shitahara smiths.

Swordsmith Background

Shitahara is the historical smithing area in today’s Hachiōji City (Tokyo). The school is said to have been founded by Yamamoto Norishige and prospered from the end of the Muromachi period into late Edo (late 16th–19th centuries). Shitahara smiths—known as Shitahara Kaji—first worked under the Hōjō clan. The celebrated Yasushige line begins with the first generation, originally signing Chikashige; he adopted the character 「康」 (Yasu) from Hōjō Ujiyasu, changing his name to Yasushige.

After the Hōjō were defeated by the Toyotomi during the Azuchi–Momoyama period, the Shitahara group served the Tokugawa as okakae kaji—official smiths retained by the feudal house—and continued forging through the Edo period. Many Shitahara smiths bore the family name Yamamoto; among them, Yasushige is especially renowned.

School History

As the only smithing tradition within the modern Tokyo area to produce koto-period blades, the Shitahara school is significant both historically and regionally. Typical features include practical, resilient shapes; calm temper lines influenced by Sōshū/Mino; and distinctive jorinmoku activity in the jihada. This Hozon-certified example represents the group’s robust, field-ready character in a well-preserved Muromachi aesthetic.

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Payment

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Customs and Taxes

・Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility.
・Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.
・These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up - do not confuse them for additional shipping charges.

Shipping and Return

  • Swords are shipped from Tokyo, Japan. We manage all the procedures to export the sword.
  • You can't return sword to Japan because procedures are too strict.
  • We work with a shipping company that have experience with Nihonto so you don't have to worry.
  • Please check the rules of your country before importing the sword. We do not take any responsibility, including (not limited to) refund, due to the above reasons.
  • We can NOT cancel an order once, we already applied for the export authorization. As this document is made to customer name.

We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Hong Kong, and Australia. If you don’t live in these countries and like to order, please contact us first before purchasing. We normally ship by EMS (Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post.

If you live in the UK, please contact us BEFORE order.

Export Procedure (We manage it)

・All our swords are registered in the Agency for Cultural Affairs as artwork and The Board of Education(Cultural properties protection Committee); therefore each sword has the registration card, issued by the Board of Education.
・After receiving the full payment of the items,we return the registration card and get the permission from Ministry of Cultural Affairs to export the swords legally from Japan. It will take about 1 to 3 months for that step.
・After the receiving the permission, we will inform you by email and send the items immediately.

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