{"product_id":"antique-japanese-katana-sword-signed-osafune-sukesada-late-muromachi","title":"Antique Japanese Katana Sword signed Osafune Sukesada, Late Muromachi","description":"\u003csection class=\"product\"\u003e\u003cheader\u003e\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"specs\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (Mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan lang=\"ja\"\u003e備州長船祐定\u003c\/span\u003e Bishū Osafune Sukesada\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSwordsmith:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sukesada (Osafune School)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSchool \/ Tradition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bizen Osafune School (Bizen-den tradition)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod \/ Province:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Muromachi Period (Late 1400s - Early 1500s) \/ Bizen Province\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate:\u003c\/strong\u003e NBTHK Hozon (保存刀剣) - Blade worthy of preservation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Period koshirae with family mon (crest) inlay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade Length (Nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 65.15 cm (2 shaku 1 sun 5 bu)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (Sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.4 cm (8 bu) - pronounced Muromachi-period curve\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMekugi-ana:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shinogi-zukuri with deep Sengoku-era battlefield curvature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJihada:\u003c\/strong\u003e Classic Bizen Mokume-itame with potential Utsuri\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e Notare with Gunome elements - classic mid-Muromachi Bizen style with prominent Nie\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis historic \u003cstrong\u003eKatana\u003c\/strong\u003e is a certified \u003cstrong\u003eNBTHK Hozon\u003c\/strong\u003e work by the legendary \u003cstrong\u003eBishū Osafune Sukesada\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the most prolific and respected smithing lineages in Japanese sword history. Measuring \u003cstrong\u003e65.15 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e with a substantial \u003cstrong\u003e2.4 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e sori, this blade exemplifies the quintessential late Muromachi battlefield sword—forged during the tumultuous Sengoku period when practical cutting performance was paramount. The pronounced curvature was specifically designed for mounted cavalry use and the dynamic fighting styles that defined this era of constant warfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade bears the unmistakable characteristics of \u003cstrong\u003eBizen Osafune\u003c\/strong\u003e workmanship, featuring the school's signature approach to steel forging and heat treatment. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e displays an elegant \u003cstrong\u003enotare\u003c\/strong\u003e (undulating wave) pattern with distinctive \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e (clove-shaped) peaks—a refined tempering style that represents the artistic maturity of mid-Muromachi Sukesada work. The bright, active \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e (crystalline martensitic structures) dancing along the \u003cem\u003ehabuchi\u003c\/em\u003e (boundary line) demonstrate the master-level control of traditional Bizen water-quenching techniques. This hamon style balances battlefield functionality with aesthetic sophistication, showing that even during wartime production, skilled Sukesada smiths maintained their artistic standards. The tang retains period-appropriate \u003cem\u003eyasurime\u003c\/em\u003e (file marks) and clearly carved mei, authenticated by Japan's premier sword preservation organization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eboshi\u003c\/em\u003e (tempering pattern in the kissaki\/point) shows proper turnback with controlled activity, while the overall hamon exhibits the gentle rhythmic undulation characteristic of accomplished mid-period Sukesada work. The visible \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e particles create a bright, lively appearance along the entire cutting edge—a hallmark of properly executed traditional Japanese differential hardening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis sword represents an authentic piece of samurai history—a sword that was forged during one of Japan's most violent and transformative periods, when master swordsmiths like Sukesada supplied countless blades to the warring clans that shaped Japan's destiny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"koshirae\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKoshirae Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sword retains its \u003cstrong\u003eperiod koshirae\u003c\/strong\u003e (mountings), showing honest age and historical use. The \u003cstrong\u003etsuba\u003c\/strong\u003e is a remarkable \u003cem\u003eshakudō\u003c\/em\u003e masterwork featuring intricate \u003cem\u003ekarakusa\u003c\/em\u003e (arabesque scrollwork) decoration with gilt highlights on a nanako-ji (stippled) ground. The sophisticated openwork design and precious metal embellishment indicate this was commissioned for a samurai of considerable status—not a common soldier's sword.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost significantly, the \u003cstrong\u003esaya\u003c\/strong\u003e (scabbard) features an inlaid \u003cstrong\u003efamily mon\u003c\/strong\u003e (crest) in what appears to be mother-of-pearl or similar material. This triangular design indicates specific clan or family ownership, transforming this from an anonymous antique into a sword with traceable samurai lineage. The black urushi lacquer finish, while showing age-appropriate wear and patina, retains the dignified aesthetic befitting its original owner's station.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003etsuka\u003c\/strong\u003e (handle) maintains its traditional black leather wrapping in the classic \u003cem\u003ehishimaki\u003c\/em\u003e diamond pattern, with original \u003cem\u003emenuki\u003c\/em\u003e ornaments still in place. The overall presentation speaks to centuries of careful stewardship by collectors who recognized this sword's historical and artistic significance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"smith-background\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSwordsmith Background\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOsafune Sukesada\u003c\/strong\u003e (長船祐定) represents one of the most enduring smithing lineages in Japanese sword history, with multiple generations bearing this name from the mid-Muromachi period through the late 1500s. Working in \u003cstrong\u003eBizen Province\u003c\/strong\u003e (modern-day Okayama Prefecture)—the heartland of Japanese sword production—the Sukesada line produced thousands of blades during the Sengoku period's unprecedented demand for quality swords.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sukesada smiths were known for maintaining the classical \u003cstrong\u003eBizen tradition\u003c\/strong\u003e even as warfare demanded increased production. Their blades balanced battlefield practicality with the refined aesthetic sensibilities that had made Bizen the premier sword-producing region for centuries. While some Sukesada works show hurried construction due to wartime demand, many—like this Hozon-certified example—demonstrate the masterful technique that earned the name international recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSukesada blades were carried by samurai across Japan during the pivotal battles of unification, making them tangible links to the dramatic events that forged modern Japan under Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and ultimately Tokugawa Ieyasu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"school-history\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSchool History: Bizen Osafune Tradition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eOsafune School\u003c\/strong\u003e in Bizen Province stood as the undisputed center of Japanese sword production for over 500 years. From the Kamakura period through the Muromachi era, the village of Osafune was home to hundreds of smiths who supplied the samurai class with the finest blades in Japan. Names like Nagamitsu, Kanemitsu, Kiyomitsu, and Sukesada became synonymous with cutting excellence and refined artistry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eBizen-den\u003c\/strong\u003e (Bizen tradition) forging style emphasized a distinctive approach to steel folding, producing the characteristic \u003cem\u003emokume-itame\u003c\/em\u003e grain pattern and often featuring \u003cem\u003eutsuri\u003c\/em\u003e—a mysterious reflection effect in the ji that remains one of Japanese metallurgy's most captivating achievements. The school's tempering method created dynamic hamon patterns that ranged from elegant \u003cem\u003enotare\u003c\/em\u003e undulations to more active \u003cem\u003egunome-midare\u003c\/em\u003e, always featuring the bright, crystalline \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e that became synonymous with Bizen excellence. This combination of refined aesthetics with superior edge geometry made Bizen blades the gold standard for Japanese swords.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the Sengoku period, when this blade was forged, Osafune smiths were working at maximum capacity to meet wartime demand. Despite producing thousands of swords annually, master smiths like Sukesada maintained quality standards that continue to earn NBTHK recognition five centuries later. The Osafune tradition represents the pinnacle of the Japanese swordsmith's art—a perfect synthesis of metallurgical science, aesthetic philosophy, and practical sword design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis katana stands as an authentic testament to that legendary tradition, certified by modern experts and bearing the unmistakable characteristics that made Bizen blades the most sought-after swords in feudal Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection id=\"condition-note\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCondition \u0026amp; Restoration Opportunity\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrent Condition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Despite surface oxidation, this blade already reveals its quality—the \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e is clearly visible with its elegant notare pattern and bright nie activity, even through the degraded polish. The koshirae exhibits period-appropriate wear with some lacquer deterioration on the saya. This visibility of the tempering pattern despite the condition speaks to the strength and quality of the original heat treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Tokyo Nihonto","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51212881297575,"sku":"697b460b84aa1","price":7866.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0763\/6792\/1319\/files\/Katana64-PSD_0045_GenerativeFill.jpg?v=1786767949","url":"https:\/\/minkatana.shop\/products\/antique-japanese-katana-sword-signed-osafune-sukesada-late-muromachi","provider":"MINKATANA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}