A Naoe Shizu Katana (直江志津)

This is a sword of the highest distinction – an NBTHK 19th Juyo Token attributed to the Naoe Shizu School, forged during the turbulent mid-Nambokucho period (1338-1367). Originally a tachi, it has since been shortened (o-suriage), yet what remains is spectacular: a commanding 72cm of cutting edge with a magnificent o-kissaki and broad mihaba that together, as Nagayama Kokan noted in the Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords, lend to a grand appearance.

The Naoe Shizu School traces its roots to Shizu Saburo Kaneuji, who studied under the great Masamune and became the founding figure of the entire Mino tradition. Students who moved to the Naoe district of Mino differentiated their work by favouring a wider sugata with an imposing tip – qualities on full display here. The jihada is mokume-hada with generous flowing masame (straight grain), particularly visible near the hamon and in the shinogi-ji, and the wavy notare hamon carries sunagashi (parallel streaks of sand) and ko-nie in the finest Nambokucho manner.

The sword was awarded its Juyo Token certificate in 1970, at a time when no greater certification existed in Japan – only the finest blades in the country could have aspired to this level. Former co-chairman of the NBTHK, Dr. Sato Kanzan, has inscribed a sayagaki on the shirasaya, providing a further layer of respected authentication from one of the foremost experts of his generation.