Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Katana by Ashū Yoshihiro, signed and dated Genji 1 (1864) and forged in Kokura (Buzen), with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers, a dragon-themed koshirae and shirasaya.
Katana by Ashū Yoshihiro, a smith based in Awa province at the end of the Edo period. According to the original seller, the Yoshihiro line began with a first master who worked in Ise-Yamada during the Enpō era (1673–1681), and a later generation moved to Awa. The tang, intact according to the photographs and with three mekugi-ana, bears on the omote the signature 阿州住源吉廣於豊前小倉作 (Ashū-jū Minamoto Yoshihiro oite Buzen Kokura saku) and on the ura the date 元治元年十二月日 (Genji gannen jūnigatsu hi): the blade was forged in Kokura, Buzen province, in 1864. It measures 78.7 cm in nagasa with 1.5 cm of sori; the photographs show bōhi on both sides and an undulating notare hamon. It comes in a koshirae with a black-lacquered saya decorated with horses, an iron tsuba with a dragon among clouds (unryū), fuchi-kashira with a dragon and Tsuno Daishi, dragon menuki with gold inlay and a matching kōgai; the original seller describes the fittings but does not date them. A shirasaya is included. The NBTHK certified the blade as Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken (no. 1026192, 16 February Reiwa 8, 2026).
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers (2026)
- Signed and dated: forged in Kokura in 1864, according to the tang inscription
- Tang intact according to the photographs, with three mekugi-ana
- Complete dragon-themed koshirae, with horse-decorated lacquered saya and kōgai
- Shirasaya included
Points to bear in mind
- The original seller declares a couple of kitae-kizu and some scratches (hike-kizu) on the blade.
- The mounting is undated: the original seller describes its fittings without dating them.
- The photographs show a small chip on the edge of the saya lacquer.
Score
114.7 pointscurrent max. 255
-
Certificate
+50
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper +50
-
Tang
+10
Tang intact according to the photographs +20 · 1 extra mekugi-ana −10
-
Declared condition
−15
The original seller declares flaws 0 · minor flaws −10 · small kitae-ware, away from the edge −5
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Signature and date
+25
Signed and with an engraved date +25
-
Mounting
+5
Mounting described, undated +5
-
Blade
+15
78.7 cm: long blade, 74 cm or more +15
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
-
Price
+19.7
Price: the more affordable, the more points +19.7
The score adds and subtracts points for each feature of the piece and has no ceiling: the highest in the catalogue today is 255. 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).
Measurements
- Nagasa
- 78.7 cm
- Sori
- 1.5 cm
- Tang
- Intact according to the photographs
- Certificate
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
- Mounting
- Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Smith
- Ashū Yoshihiro
- Period
- Shinshintō (1781-1876)
- Dating
- 12th month of Genji 1 (1864)
- Province
- Awa
- Mekugi-ana
- 3
- Condition
- Minor flaws declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- Yes
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