O125111(T5003)
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Tanto signed Musashi daijō Fujiwara TADAHIRO with）Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard Aikuchi-style Tanto Koshirae

Shinto early Edo period　(circa Gen'na 1st - Kan'ei 9th/ 1624 - 32）　Hizen
Length of cuttinge 29.6cm Almost no curve Width of base 28.8mm Thickness of base 8.2mm

Tokubetsu Hozon certificate

with）Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard Aikuchi-style Tanto Koshirae

Tokebetsu Hozon Tosogu certificate Futatokoro


Blade construction: Hira-zukuri, Iori-mune. Wide in Mihaba, thick in Kasane. A rather on longer side and heavy built Tanto holding upper Fukura area swelling in full. The entire shape creates a brave impression with majestic manner so called "Kan'ei-Shinto style". (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is supreme fine and uniform Ko-mokume whereas a large Mokume ware appears on base in front. The most superior made steel gives off minute sprinkled sand impression to cover with thick Nie sparkling hard metal granules "Ji-nie" on Hira-ji and darkish precise lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" activity that wells out from steel forming the texture known as Nashiji-hada “pear-skin grain”. The Ji-nie is profusely and uniformly distributed like minute particles of frost, while delicate chikei are abundantly present throughout the surface, giving the steel a bright and vibrant appearance. A yakidashi-utsuri, appearing in the manner of a mizukage, can also be observed.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is fine Nie hard metal granules base, Chu-suguha of which thick boundary belt consists of frequent short Ashi and Hoture fraying as well as Niji-ha appear on upper Monouchi area. The interior is filled with mist-like crystallize area deeply. The entire temper gives off bright and vivid impression.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms straight in good manner and medium circle turns back.
Tang(Nakago): UBU original. The heel of Nakago forms unven V-shaped of kengyo. One Mekugi-ana hole. Slightly slanting left (Gyaku Katte-sagari) filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is flat. The inscription in Sashi-omote is eight long character that start with the granted title Musashi-daijo 武蔵大掾, name of clan Fujiwara 藤原 and the name of smith TADAHIRO 忠広.

This is the supreme tanto work made by the 1st generation TADAHOSHI 忠吉 and recognized production year is judged on about Gen'na 1st to Kan'ei 9th(1624-32). From it's workmanship, guess that TADAYOSHI was very much influenced by the Rai KUNIMITSU works during Nanbokucho period.
The first generation TADAHOSHI was born in Genki 3 (1572) as a son of sword maker Hashimoto MICHIHIRO 橋本道弘 in Nagase town, Saga district. He became separated from his father MICHIHIRO 道弘 who died of a disease and grandfather MORIHIRO 盛弘 who met death in the battle of Shimabara at the same time in the 3rd month Tensho 12 (1584) when he was as young as 13 years old. He was compelled to serve his apprenticeship to the other local sword makers in his young ages. However he excelled in as a superior sword maker since teen age and finally was picked out by feudal lord Nabeshima Katsushige 鍋島勝茂.
Keicho 1 (1596), when he was 25 years old, he went up to Kyoto to join the famed school of Umetada Myouju 埋忠明寿 and learn the most updated culture and technique for three years.
From on about Keicho 18 (1613) down to Kanei 1 (1624) he intentionally used the other inscription of "Hizen-koku-junin TADAYOSHI-saku" 肥前国住人忠吉作 mainly for those unconventional artworks which are out from the standard works of TADAYOSHI's studio as if he challenged to make an innovative artworks to try using different sence of technique from antcient times and regions.
Passed away in the 15th day, the 8th month of Kanei 9 (1632), was 61 years old.
The founder TADAYOSHI established the Shinto summit artwork of sword making for the major Hizen TADAYOSHI school and had laid the foundations for the later generations until 9th by the end of Edo period.
The Most Superior Made appraisal "Saijo-saku" and rated as the Most Supreme Sharp "Ōwaza-mono" performance.

with) Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard Aikuchi-style Tabnto Koshirae
(click HERE for Front, HERE for the other side, HERE for each fitting)
  • Futatokoro-mono(Kozuka/Menuki) : Leopard/Tiger design, Kozuka-Shakudo Nanako-ji Takabori carving Iroe, Menuki Shakudo Katabori carving Iroe - unsigned attributed to Kaga Goto (Tokubetsu Hozon certificate)
  • Tsuka : White lay-skin Dashi-same wrap
Gold foiled double layer Habaki collar
Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting(Sayagaki written by polisher Hon'ami Ni'shu/living national tresure / HERE for front, HERE for the other side)
Recent polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data:
Honma Junji/Satou Kanichi, NIHONTO TAIKAN SHINTO-HEN 2 Otsuka Kogei sha April 15, 1969
Kataoka Ginsaku, Hizento Shiko, 1974