A Sakon Korekazu Katana (武蔵大掾左近是一)

Musashi Daijo Korekazu was one of the finest swordsmiths of the shintô period and a founding figure of the Edo Ishido school. Originally from Omi province, he relocated to Edo in the early 1600s and set about transplanting the classical Bizen tradition into the heart of the new capital. His blades at their finest recall the great Ichimonji work of the Kamakura period, and he trained a generation of smiths who carried that tradition forward through the entire Edo era.

This powerful jo-sun katana at 71.5cm is a textbook example of Korekazu at his best. The jihada combines flowing itame and masame with fine chikei and the characteristic shadow-like utsuri that marks the Bizen inheritance. The choji-midare hamon surges along the blade with high yaki that pushes toward the shinogi, filled throughout with generous sunagashi, kinsen, and scattered tobiyaki droplets of clove-blossom buds. Tanobe sensei’s sayagaki confirms the attribution as a representative work of the smith.

The koshirae is a cohesive and well-considered ensemble built around a chrysanthemum theme. The tsuba is a Kyo-sukashi piece in kiku form with tea-whisk and ginger motifs – a lucky-charm combination certified by the NTHK-NPO. The silver habakicarries the same kiku petal design, the menuki depict horse-riding equipment in black and gold, and the saya transitions elegantly from ishime lacquer to smooth gloss. Certified NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon and NTHK-NPO Yushusaku, with sayagaki by Tanobe sensei.