Antique Nihonto Katana Attributed to Daido NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN Certificate/NBTHK HOZON TOKEN Certificate

Authentic Nihontō Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Daido【Omichi】 / Daimyo Yanagisawa family legacy 大道 大和郡山藩柳沢家伝来 NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN Certificate/NBTHK HOZON TOKEN Certificate

There were several swordsmiths who used the name Daido during the late Muromachi to early Shinto periods in Mino Province. Among them, Mutsu no Kami Daido was famous, with known dated works from Tensho 2, 4, 13, and 18 years. Daido is also widely known as the founder of the Mishina school and as the father of the four brothers: Iga no Kami Kinmichi, Echigo no Kami Kinmichi, Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi, and Etchu no Kami Masatoshi. He is said to have been a swordsmith from the Kanesada lineage of Seki in Mino Province. His initial signature was Kanemichi, and he forged swords in Seki. In Eiroku 12, he received the character "Dai" from Emperor Ogimachi, changing his name from Kanemichi to Daido. Some inscriptions from that time include "Dai Kanemichi" and "Mutsu no Kami Dai Kanemichi," suggesting he also received the title of Mutsu no Kami around that time.

It is curious that at some point, most Mino smiths, except for a few, stopped using the character "Kane" in their names. For example, "Kanetsune" became "Masatsune," and "Kanefusa" became "Ujifusa." Thus, it is presumed that Kanemichi also changed from "Dai Kanemichi" to "Daido," omitting the "Kane" character. Later, he moved to Gifu, and around Tensho 18, when Horikawa Kunihiro was heading to the Kanto region, there is a collaboration piece inscribed "Noshu Gifu ju Daido Shinano no Kami Kunihiro," indicating their interaction.

Around Bunroku 2, Daido moved to Kyoto with his four sons and settled in Yamashiro Province, establishing the Mishina school.

This sword is well-forged with a tight kitae (forging pattern) and shows a subtle utsuri (shadow-like pattern) with standing grain. The hamon (temper line) is a large wave pattern with frequent gunome-ashi and gunome-choji-ashi, making it an excellent example of Daido’s work. The accompanying koshirae (mountings) features black lacquered scabbard with elaborate decorations and a functional design allowing it to be worn as both a tachi and a katana. The handle has a luxurious wrapping of whale whiskers and an eye-catching menuki with the crest of the Yanagisawa family, reflecting the prestige of the Yanagisawa clan of the Yamatokoriyama Domain. The shirasaya (plain wooden mounting) was later added.

The Yanagisawa clan, claiming descent from the Kai-Ichijo family of the Kai-Genji lineage, served as retainers of the Takeda clan during the Sengoku period. After the fall of the Takeda clan, Yanagisawa Shingen served Tokugawa Ieyasu and, following Ieyasu's move to the Kanto region, received holdings in Musashi Province. After the death of Shingen, his son Yasuichi became a hatamoto (direct retainer of the shogun) and, later, a vassal of Tokugawa Tadanaga. After Tadanaga’s downfall, Yasuichi became a ronin (masterless samurai), but he was later re-employed by the shogunate and became the head of the Yanagisawa main family. Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, serving Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, rose to high ranks, including chamberlain and later senior councilor, eventually becoming the daimyo of Kawagoe Domain in Musashi Province and later of Kofu Domain in Kai Province. His descendants continued to serve the shogunate until the Meiji Restoration.

In 1884, with the establishment of the kazoku (nobility) system, the last lord of the Yanagisawa clan, Hosanobu, was made a count, while the heads of the Kurokawa and Mikaiichi branches were made viscounts. The Yanagisawa family maintained a close relationship with the Takeda family, with Hosanobu’s son inheriting the high house of the Takeda clan, preserving their bloodline to the present day.

Bare weight: 523 grams. Weight with koshirae: 773 grams.

Nihontō Information