Zenjo Kaneyoshi - Tokubetsu Hozon

[Ray Singer]

I found it interesting to see that this sword was awarded Tokubetsu Hozon. A mumei Muromachi blade of ordinary length, not ubu, atobori horimono, and by a smith who would not be considered of the top-ranking or most famous for the period. Seems outside of the current Tokubetsu Hozon ruleset.

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-zenjyo-kaneyoshi

 

Best regards

Ray

[lonely panet]

out of interest, how much would it have cost to have that koshare made?

[jason_mazzy]

Yes, I was studying that tonight..m seemed overpriced, however that koshirae is easy on the eyes.

[John A Stuart]

The sword is alright, but, the money is sure in the koshirae. John

[Jean]

From what I remember, Zenjo had Tegai roots and was considered as the founder of one of the seven lines of Mino Seki smiths, probably why the blade went TH. The money is in the koshirae as everyone has noticed.

BTW, the few Zenjo swords I have seen are in Tegai style and not in Naoe Shizu style.

[Isocyanide]

Is that koshirae supposed to double as a cricket bat?

[seattle1]

Hello:

Well the koshirae is valuable, though probably only a minor fraction. What caught my eye was the Showa 26 registration date and the reputed connection between the ho-ho bird decoration and the Imperial Court. A very nice rig overall. If the blade and koshirae go back to pre-war times together, then the family seeking registration probably had some real status.

Arnold F.

[Geraint]

You are right Steve.

 

A small English ship was wrecked on an offshore island and the strange shape of early cricket bats carried in the hold was a source of fascination to the Japanese, hence the name of this type of koshirae, kirike-to-batto koshirae. An interesting aspect of Namban art. Apparently the cricket gear was being transported as part of the luggage of an officer with the East India Company and therefore the stylised initials EIC often feature in the design of the kodogu on such koshirae.

 

All the best.

 

 

[nihonto1001]

This sword on my site was attributed to Zenjo Kaneyoshi: http://onihonto.com/zenjo-kaneyoshi-uchigatana/.

 

I was hoping for a Nosada attribution, because of the fuschi, overall quality, and getting a chance to compare it to a signed/papered example.  However, there is some good supporting information the Yoshikawa group gave on their attribution (see link for details).  I was very satisfied with their commentary. They went above and beyond, in my opinion.

 

I think, that although certain swords might fall outside of TH parameters, they are still deserving of high praise.  Such may be the case with Kaneyoshi.  Perhaps the NBTHK made an exception.

[SwordGuyJoe]

Here's an updated link since that one is broken: http://onihonto.com/zenjo-kaneyoshi-uchigatana/