Kantei

NH-0314 Rank 116

Fujishima Tomoshige

Suriage katana signed Fujishima Tomoshige (Kaga, Nanbokuchō to early Muromachi), with an Imperial Japanese Navy sabre mounting bearing a tachibana mon, new shirasaya and a declared Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken.

Kotō (up to 1596)Nanbokuchō to early Muromachi period (14th–15th century)KagaNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana signed Fujishima Tomoshige, of the Fujishima school of Kaga province, which the original seller places between the Nanbokuchō period and early Muromachi. Shinogi-zukuri blade with iori-mune, 71 cm nagasa and 2.0 cm sori, with deep curvature, saki-zori and chū-kissaki. According to the original seller, the jigane is itame with nagare and mokume, with ji-nie and a darkish tone typical of Fujishima; the hamon is gunome-midare mixed with kaku-ba and togari-ba, richly covered in nie, and the bōshi is midare-komi returning in ko-maru. The photographs show a clean, well-polished blade; the seller states a recent polish and good condition. The nakago is suriage with a kiri end, three mekugi-ana and the signature “Fujishima Tomoshige” (藤嶋友重) preserved in its lower part; the seller notes that the characters are larger than usual for Tomoshige. It comes with an Imperial Japanese Navy sabre-type mounting (kyū-guntō): rayskin grip with wire wrap, gilt brass guard, nickel-plated metal scabbard and a tachibana mon; plus a new shirasaya and tsunagi and a silver-foiled copper habaki. The original seller declares an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate (2023), not visible in the photographs.

Strong points

  • Signature “Fujishima Tomoshige” preserved on the suriage nakago; larger characters than usual, according to the original seller.
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate (2023), declared by the original seller.
  • Itame jigane with nagare and mokume, darkish in tone, and gunome-midare hamon with kaku-ba and togari-ba: hallmarks of Fujishima.
  • Complete Imperial Japanese Navy sabre mounting (kyū-guntō) in good condition, with a tachibana mon.
  • Recent polish and new shirasaya, according to the original seller; the photographs show a clean blade.

Points to bear in mind

  • Suriage (shortened) nakago with three mekugi-ana.
  • The mounting is a military sabre type (Meiji or later) with a nickel-plated metal scabbard: not a mounting from the blade's period.
  • The certificate does not appear in the photographs; it is cited as declared by the original seller.
  • No close-up of the nakago; the signature and holes are read from the full-blade photographs.

Score breakdown

49.2/100

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 3 of 22 Shortened tang, with 3 mekugi-ana
  3. Mounting 2 of 18 Modern mounting · with a family crest (mon)
  4. Declared condition 20 of 20 Recent polish declared by the seller at origin
  5. Blade 8 of 8 71 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 6.2 of 10 Rank 53 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest