A Shodai Tadayoshi Daisho (肥前国忠吉)

Nine generations of swordsmiths carry the Tadayoshi name, but none are more celebrated than the founder. Hashimoto Shinzaemon, born in the third year of Genki (1572), trained under the great Umetada Myoju in Kyoto before returning to Hizen province and establishing one of the most distinguished schools of the Shintô period. Ranked saijo-saku (grandmaster) and rated saijo o’wazamono for supreme sharpness, the Shodai Tadayoshi remains a benchmark against which later Hizen work is measured. Both blades of this daisho carry his signature Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi on ubu-nakago in original, unaltered condition – a pairing of exceptional rarity.

The katana measures 69.2cm with a sori of 0.9cm and a moto-haba of 2.88cm; the wakizashi runs 53.4cm with a sori of 1.3cm and moto-haba of 2.95cm. Both blades carry gold habakiwith diagonal file marks and are housed in shirasaya with silk bags. The koshirae are a matched kuro-roiro-nuri saya daisho uchigatana-koshirae – glossy black lacquered scabbards crafted in the modern period using certified antique fittings united by a dragon theme throughout.

The fittings are outstanding. A matching pair of shakudo daisho tsuba by the Hikone school (late Edo, circa 1780-1867) depict cloud dragons and waves in bold relief with gold highlights, certified by NTHK-NPO Kanteisho. The fuchi-kashira, attributed to Tokoken Motohide of Mito province and bearing his signature with kao, carry an amaryu (rain dragon) design in shakudo with gold accents, again with NTHK-NPO Kanteisho certification. Menuki on both handles continue the rain dragon theme. The wakizashi koshirae additionally features a kogai (hair pick) and kozuka (utility knife), both decorated with dragons among waves and clouds.