Kantei

NH-0024 Rank 51

Kashū-jū Kanewaka

加州住兼若

Attributed to the second Kanewaka generation of Kaga, Meireki era, with an ubu tang, NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers issued in December 2025, uchigatana koshirae and shirasaya.

Shintō (1596-1780)Meireki era (1655–58)KagaNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

The Kanewaka line of Kaga begins with Jinroku, a smith who came from Mino and claimed descent from Shizu Saburō Kaneuji; he received the title of Etchū no Kami and thereafter signed “Etchū no Kami Takahira”. The succession continues with Matasuke, the second generation, and Shirōemon, the third. Because the periods in which each generation signed “Kanewaka” overlap, and daisaku and daimei are common, attributing an undated blade is difficult; the original seller reports that recent research places this piece with the second generation, Matasuke, in the Meireki era (1655-1658). The blade measures 69.9 cm of nagasa with 1.3 cm of sori, 3.11 cm of motohaba, 0.65 cm of motokasane, 0.70 cm of shinogi-kasane and 2.10 cm of sakihaba. The tang remains ubu. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper was issued on 1 December 2025. An uchigatana koshirae with a kuro-kawari-nuri saya and a shirasaya accompany the blade.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper issued on 1 December 2025
  • Ubu tang
  • Attributed to the second Kanewaka generation, the most accomplished of the Kaga line
  • Uchigatana koshirae with a kuro-kawari-nuri saya
  • A shirasaya is also included

Points to bear in mind

  • The signature carries no date
  • The original seller neither details the fittings nor dates the koshirae
  • The number of mekugi-ana is not stated

Score breakdown

62.2/100

The score shares out 100 points: Signature and date 18 · Tang 22 · Mounting 18 · Declared condition 20 · Blade 8 · Shirasaya 4 · Price 10. It is computed from the record, not from an opinion. The mounting starts from what is known of its period, adds what vouches for it (its own NBTHK paper, a signed fitting, a crest) and subtracts what has been restored (saya, ito, same, habaki or sageo).

  1. Signature and date 10 of 18 Signed, with no engraved date
  2. Tang 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
  3. Mounting 1 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 69.9 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 6.2 of 10 Rank 54 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest