Antique Nihonto Katana Signed by Masanaga NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN Certificate NTHK 甲種 TOKUBETSU KICHO TOKEN Certificate

Authentic Nihontō Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Hizen no kuni Bicchu daijo Fujiwara Masanaga 肥前國備中大掾藤原正永 NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN Certificate/ NTHK 甲種 TOKUBETSU KICHŌ TŌKEN Certificate

備中大掾正永 (Bitchu Daijo Masanaga) was born as the eldest son of the second generation 河内守正廣 (Kawachi no Kami Masahiro). His common name was Denbei, and his initial signature was "廣永" (Hironaga).

In Kanbun 5 (1665), when the first generation Kawachi Daijo Masahiro passed away, the second generation Masahiro went to Kyoto and changed his title from "Musashi no Kami" to "Kawachi no Kami," and altered his name from "正永" (Masanaga) to "正廣" (Masahiro). Masanaga also went to Kyoto with his father and was appointed "Bitchu Daijo." In Genroku 12 (1699), when the second generation Masahiro passed away, Masanaga inherited the family headship as the third generation head of the Hizen Masahiro family. Consequently, he needed to transition to "Kawachi no Kami" and assume the name "Masahiro." In Genroku 14 (1701), he submitted a request to the Saga Domain administration, but before receiving a response, he passed away at the age of 60 in Hoei 1 (1704). Therefore, Masanaga did not take the name "Masahiro" during his lifetime and continued to be known as "Masanaga." Similarly, the second and fifth generation Masahiro initially used the name "Masanaga," but unlike other generations, the master Masanaga never signed as "Masahiro."

Additionally, there are not many works with Masanaga's own signature, as he mostly worked as a substitute for the second generation Masahiro. In fact, he served as the head of the Hizen Masahiro family for only five years.

Masanaga's style, like the first and second generation Masahiro, excelled in crafting powerful gunome-midare (irregular waves), but he was also skilled in making suguha (straight hamon). This sword features a well-proportioned width difference between the base and tip, with an extended tip. The steel has a fine ko-itame (small board grain) with dense ji-nie (small martensite crystals) and intricate chikei (line patterns). The bright and clear nioiguchi (habuchi) has a suguha with small sand streaks, kinsuji (golden lines), and inazuma (lightning patterns), along with gunome-ashi (legs of irregular waves) and occasional nodes. The boshi (tip of the blade) is straight with a rounded return on both sides, showcasing Masanaga's exceptional skill in creating the signature straight hamon of Hizen swords.

The accompanying koshirae is sturdy with no looseness in the handle, and the tsuba (guard) produces almost no rattle. When unsheathed and handled, the sword has a well-balanced center of gravity, indicating that it was crafted with both aesthetic and practical considerations in mind. Currently, one of Masanaga's works with an irregular pattern has been designated as an Important Sword. If a straight pattern piece were to receive this designation in the future, this sword would be a strong candidate.

Bare weight: 858 grams.
Weight with koshirae and without saya: 1,132 grams.

Nihontō Information