Katana
Yamato-Hosho (NBTHK Juyo-Token)

This Katana was made in the later Kamakura period, in the 14th century, and is characterized by its Shinogi-Zukuri form. The blade length is 27.9 inches (70.8 cm) with a Chu-Kissaki tip. The Boshi tip hardening is Midare-Komi, Yakitsume, and both sides Hakikake. The blade curvature (Sori) is 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) flat with a high Shinogi.

​

The Nakago (blade handle) is o-suriage (shortened) with 2 holes, while the width at the Hamachi is 1.06 inches (2.70 cm) and at the Kissaki is 0.73 inches (1.85 cm). The back structure of the blade (Mune) is Iori-Mune and the blade thickness on the back is 0.24 inches (0.6 cm). The forge structure (Kitae, Jitetsu) is excellently forged Masame-Hada with thick Ji-Nie, Chikei, and Nie Utzuri.

​

The Hamon (hardening line) is a Suguha with Ko-Ashi, abundant Ko-Nie, Hotsure, Uchinoke, Kuchigaiba, Yubashiri, Kinsuji, and Sunagashi. It weighs 1.32 lbs (600 g) and received the Juyo (Session) paper in 2001. According to Tanobe Sensei, the blade shows the typical characteristics of the Hosho School and is a masterpiece with a healthy Jiba. The mounting (Koshirae) is a Shira-Saya.

​

This Katana is an extremely fine masterpiece, very rare, and there are very few long swords classified as Juyo. Further information can be found in "Schwerter des Nihonto-Club Deutschland" by Markus Sesko 2011.

​

The Hosho School was based in the Yamato Takechi district and flourished from the late Kamakura to the Nanbokucho period. The most famous smiths of the Hosho School were Sadamune and Sadayoshi, also known as "Hosho-Goro". Other outstanding smiths were Sadakiyo, Sadaoki, and Sadamitsu. Their style is characterized by a jigane in masama, a nakago with higaki-yasurime, and a cut nakago-jiri, reflecting the characteristic style of all five Yamato schools.