Anyone know this NBTHK Exhibition sword's identity?

[Schneeds]

This sword is currently on display at the NBTHK as part of their Sword Crafts Exhibition.  Unlike the other mumei blades in the polishing category, it does not have any attribution.  It was my favorite off all the awards, and I'm curious if anyone has come across it before or knows what its probable attribution is/might be?  

 

Photographing was tough; it was busy and I was doing this hand held but still nice to look at. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lewis B]

That is a gorgeous blade. I can understand the appeal. The hataraki and activity in the hada, the way it moves through the hamon, is beautiful. Nice controlled kinsuji and nie throughout. Looks to be a Nanbokucho era blade. Could it be Chogi?

[Lexvdjagt]

A stunning blade in another wonderful exhibition. I visited today, and was amazed by the stunning blades they had on display. Especially the AOE and Ko-AOE blades. This blade caught my attention as well. The Hataraki is exceptional. 
 

Greetings,

Lex van der Jagt

[Rivkin]

Its Soshu Masamune or a very good shinshinto imitation.

[CSM101]

I can´t remember a Masamune with an o-kissaki. Shizu?

[Rivkin]

8 minutes ago, CSM101 said:

I can´t remember a Masamune with an o-kissaki. Shizu?

 

Probably from 1360s (hmmm)... but there are some (TJ 16th session for example). Usually with a long history of such attribution. I don't see a lot of masame and the hamon's base tends towards ko-nie so if not Masamune I would go Sa school, distart third is Naotsuna.

[Hoshi]

No, not Masamune. 
 

My best idea is a Juyo-level Shizu Kaneuji. 
 

The gunome peaks, the wild hataraki and large nie deposits are textbook. The sugata also matches nicely. 
 

The kinsuji may feel borderline Satsuma Shinshinto but the boshi and overall jiba are Koto, early to middle Nambokucho.

[Lewis B]

It's certainly not Mino Shizu. None of the blades I've seen from that period looked anywhere near that good. Maybe Andrew Ickeringill knows as it appears the blade was part of the competition he entered and won a prize. Polisher is quoted as Saito Koshu?

[Hoshi]

The hada doesn't quite conform with what one would expect from "The" Shizu.

 

It has a certain Hokkoku-mono flair. The steel is dark, with standing out jinie and chickei. 

 

I suggest Sanekage or Tametsugu as more probable than Shizu, after further reflection. 
 

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It's certainly not Mino Shizu

 

 

What's Mino Shizu? Naoe Shizu? There are wonderful Naoe Shizu, the quality variance is high. 

 

 

 

[Gakusee]

This could well be Naoe Shizu, some exceptional Tametsugu, rough Sa school

[Lewis B]

Yes, Naoe Shizu can be exceptional. I had in mind Mino period Tametsugu. Any of the works I've seen attributed to Tametsugu who, at this time around 1365, was part of the Nato Shizu group, have been unimpressive. 

 

I'm with Michael I think it's Naoe Shizu work. Sugata is very close to this Juyo blade

 

[Rivkin]

I don't think such swords can be uniquely attributed. 1365? itame dominated with no clear masame(?).

Can it be called Tametsugu? I have no doubt some did it recently.

Can it be called Hasebe? Here is not a typical Hasebe, but still attributed as such. Yes, it can be Hasebe.

Could it have been traditionally called Masamune? Quite likely.

Shizu? Can be. Atypical jigane, but.

There is no definitive kantei trait on the photo which points to one specific attribution. Maybe in real life there is. It is not uncommon for Soshu not to have one though.

Sa school... I personally like the idea, but again nothing says it has to be one.

[eternal_newbie]

You

On 8/13/2025 at 9:07 PM, Schneeds said:

This sword is currently on display at the NBTHK as part of their Sword Crafts Exhibition.  Unlike the other mumei blades in the polishing category, it does not have any attribution.  It was my favorite off all the awards, and I'm curious if anyone has come across it before or knows what its probable attribution is/might be?  

 

Photographing was tough; it was busy and I was doing this hand held but still nice to look at. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone put a video of it in youtube with more closeups (as well as the other swords in that category): https://youtu.be/VR4hTdhOk24?t=1098

 

[Andrew Ickeringill]

On 8/15/2025 at 6:39 AM, Lewis B said:

Maybe Andrew Ickeringill knows as it appears the blade was part of the competition he entered and won a prize.

 

Tametsugu.

[Lewis B]

Quite surprised by the Tametsugu attribution. I would have thought Sanekage would be a closer fit given this hamon. Some very nice nie formations highlighted in the YT video.

 

[Schneeds]

13 hours ago, Andrew Ickeringill said:

 

Tametsugu.

Thank you!

 

Props to Hoshi and Michael!

[Alex A]

Good we all like different stuff.

 

Maybe the pictures but to me that hamon looks terrible, erratic.

 

First post sword, that is.

[Hoshi]

Hello,

 

Glad I could help. 

 

Hokkoku mono is a great vibe. 

 

If you're into wild rings of jinie and chickei with bold nie activity, they're for you. 

 

What's wonderful about Hokkoku-mono is that they're about as far away as Shinto / Shinshinto / Gendai that you can be. If you're new with Koto, these swords offer a wonderful contrast with their conspicuous jihada and activity. While certainly rustic to some extant, they exude a sense of power that is unmistakable, and along with the dark steel luster, project an ancient, fearsome presence  

 

Go Yoshihiro and Norishige, who are first class grandmaster, and are both connected to these areas as well. 

 

Quote

Quite surprised by the Tametsugu attribution. I would have thought Sanekage would be a closer fit given this hamon. Some very nice nie formations highlighted in the YT video.

 

Difficult to tell apart based on the photos. There is a certain quality gradient at play here. For Sanekage, you want to see Norishige-style "almost" Matsukawa hada. 

 

Personally, one of the first swords that really struck a cord with me was a Sanekage. I wrote about it here.

 

Best,

 

Hoshi

 

[Gakusee]

9 hours ago, Lewis B said:

Quite surprised by the Tametsugu attribution. I would have thought Sanekage would be a closer fit given this hamon. Some very nice nie formations highlighted in the YT video.

 

 

Not really H, need to pursue this more

Both are late Soshu/ Soshu inspired but not quite top Soshu. Therefore when you see such Soshu like works which are not as refined and sophisticated as top / core Soshu, you default to Sanekage or Tametsugu. Perhaps not enough nagare or togari for the N Shizu attribution 
 

[Gakusee]

3 hours ago, Alex A said:

Good we all like different stuff.

 

Maybe the pictures but to me that hamon looks terrible, erratic.

 

First post sword, that is.

 

Alex if I am not mistaken you are into Mino? Or perhaps I got that wrong. This is Soshu style and hence quite ara nie heavy. Not for everyone indeed and I also prefer a more refined nie experience. 

[Alex A]

Hi Michael, i have some Mino blades but wouldn't say i bought them because I'm into Mino, they just appealed at the time.

 

Love Koto hada, love Nie, though the blade above im sure has wonderful jigane, the hamon im afraid is much too unrefined, as you point out.

 

The nio-guchi appears a bit inconsistent, maybe that's down to age or photo.

 

Really dont like the the patch of nie above the hamon, around 3 inches from the kissaki, at all.

 

Though without doubt there is stuff to like. polish appears fantastic in the images.

 

To me, there are far more appealing swords of that era.

 

Think sometimes its better being honest, than sitting on the fence. Sure i will have swords that's many don't like.

 

[Lewis B]

2 hours ago, Hoshi said:

Hello,

 

Glad I could help. 

 

Hokkoku mono is a great vibe. 

 

If you're into wild rings of jinie and chickei with bold nie activity, they're for you. 

 

What's wonderful about Hokkoku-mono is that they're about as far away as Shinto / Shinshinto / Gendai that you can be. If you're new with Koto, these swords offer a wonderful contrast with their conspicuous jihada and activity. While certainly rustic to some extant, they exude a sense of power that is unmistakable, and along with the dark steel luster, project an ancient, fearsome presence  

 

Go Yoshihiro and Norishige, who are first class grandmaster, and are both connected to these areas as well. 

 

 

Difficult to tell apart based on the photos. There is a certain quality gradient at play here. For Sanekage, you want to see Norishige-style "almost" Matsukawa hada. 

 

Personally, one of the first swords that really struck a cord with me was a Sanekage. I wrote about it here.

 

Best,

 

Hoshi

 

Speaking of Norishige what do people think of this early Juyo Norishige tachi that just dropped on Eirakudo? Are the cloudy areas utsuri?

 

https://eirakudo.shop/928608

[nulldevice]

27 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

Speaking of Norishige what do people think of this early Juyo Norishige tachi that just dropped on Eirakudo? Are the cloudy areas utsuri?

 

https://eirakudo.shop/928608

The habaki is really cool! 

[Gakusee]

2 hours ago, Lewis B said:

Speaking of Norishige what do people think of this early Juyo Norishige tachi that just dropped on Eirakudo? Are the cloudy areas utsuri?

 

https://eirakudo.shop/928608

Hmmm. Not the fine itame mokume style of Norishige (so well regarded at TokuJu) and yet not quite the beautiful and desirable matsukawa hada. Quite a bit of hadatachi and nagare in a style in-between.
Some other Norishige blades have what looks like utsuri (eg attached). Here there are some spots which look almost like sumihada but it is not clear what it is. 
 

One will need to look into the sayagaki in detail…

 

And yes, the habaki is exceptional