For more than 70 years since our founding, we have cherished the transmission of Japanese sword culture and trustworthy sword transactions.
Through appraisal, sales, and purchase services, we connect customers with their ties to Japanese swords.
On this official account, we will share a wide range of information, from the appeal of the swords and fittings handled by Wakeido to appraisal and purchase details and trivia about Japanese swords.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Introduction of Menuki from Wakeido
Title: Nihiki Shirauo zu Menuki
Signature: Kibatamei Masa Kage
Certification: [N.B.T.H.K.] Hozon Tousougu
Dimensions: Left: Height 52mm, Width 14mm
Right: Height 51.5mm, Width 14mm
Period: Last of Edo
School: Toryusai School
Explanation
The Toryusai School was founded by Tanaka Kiyotoshi, who was born in the first year of the Bunka era and is known to have been related to Haruaki Hōgen. The Toryusai style, characterized by its cleverness, was completed by Kiyotoshi, who trained many disciples, including Jurō, Jumatsu, and Masakage. Masakage was one of them, known for his high skill, and this Menuki is finely crafted with great attention to detail.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Introducing Kozuka from Wakedo
Title: Mouko zu Kozuka
Signature: Katsuryuken (Iwama Masayoshi)
Certification: [N.B.T.H.K.] Hozon Tousougu
Size: Length 97.5mm, Width 15mm
Period: Late of Edo (AD1764 to 1837)
School: Iwama school
Description
Iwami Masayoshi is the founder of the Iwama school. He was a disciple of Hamano Naosuke and was allowed to use the character 'Nao' at the age of twenty, taking the name Naoyasu. After training at the main house, he signed as Katsuryuken Masayoshi, and in his later years, he adopted the name Juboku in pursuit of the ideal techniques of Riju and Mizume Masazui. He excelled in high carving in the Seizui style, and his skills were praised as exceptional.
This work is a kozuka depicting a fierce tiger, notable for its interesting composition. The tiger looks up at the sky with a vivid expression, and the high relief technique used in the background creates a three-dimensional representation of the fierce tiger, which is impressive.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Introduction of the Fuchikashira from Wakeido
Title: Botan shishi zu Fuchikashira
Signature: Hidenaga (kao)
Certification: [N.B.T.H.K.] Hozon Tousougu
Dimensions: Fuchi - Height 38mm, Width 22.5mm, Thickness 13.4mm
Head - Height 33.8mm, Width 13mm
Period: Middle Edo Period
School: Oomori School
Description
The Oomori School is a prestigious lineage alongside the Ishiguro-ha and Yanagawa-ha within the Okutani School, founded by Hidehisa, who trained under Yokoya Somin, and flourished under the second generation, Hidenaga.
Hidehisa Omori, the eldest son of Hidehisa, initially took the name Hanjitsu and later assumed the name Shirobe. After passing away earlier than his father, the family estate was inherited by his younger brother, Fusami. Consequently, the number of his works is limited.
This piece showcases the high skill of the Oomori School, featuring a high relief color painting of a peony lion on a red-copper fish scale ground in the Yokoya style.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Introduction of Kozuka from Wakeido
Title: Plum Tree and Small Bird Design Kozuka
Signature: Okina Toshiyoshi sei
Certification: N.B.T.H.K. Hozon Tousougu
Size: Length 97.5mm Width 14.5mm
Period: Last of Edo
School: Tōryūsai school
Description
The Tōryūsai school traces its origins to Tanaka Kiyotoshi. Kiyotoshi was born in Aizu in the first year of the Bunka era and is said to have trained under the Aizu Masamune school in his youth. He honed his skills under the guidance of Kōno Shunmei Hōgen during his visit to the Tōhoku region, completing a clever style known as the Tōryūsai school. Many skilled disciples followed, including Toshiyoshi, who trained numerous students.
Toshiyoshi was Kiyotoshi's foremost disciple and a refined successor of the Tōryūsai school. With high-level techniques, he popularized the Tōryūsai style during the late Edo period.
This piece features a small bird and plum blossoms in a four-part design, with the trunk and branches of the plum tree having thick areas in high relief while becoming flat towards the end to create a sense of three-dimensionality. It embodies the essence of Tōryūsai and is quite charming.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
This is an introduction to the fuchikashira from Wakedo.
Title: Bairyu Taketora zu Fuchikashira
Signature: Yanagawa Naomasa (kao)
Certification: [N.B.T.H.K.] Hozon Tousougu
Dimensions: Fuchikashira - Height 38.4mm, Width 22.2mm, Thickness 12mm
Head - Height 35mm, Width 16.3mm
Period: Middle Edo Period, AD 1692 - AD 1757
School: Yanagawa School
Description
The Yanagawa School, founded by Naomasa, is a prestigious school of town carving with disciples such as Naomitsu and Naoharu.
Naomasa was born in the fifth year of Genroku as the son of Masatsugu, with the childhood name Heijiro, later changed to Sanzaemon.
He entered the school of Yoshioka Inabanosuke during his youth and later learned under Yokoya Somin at his father's instruction.
He passed away at the age of sixty-six in the seventh year of Hōreki.
The Yanagawa School is known for its high-relief color painting on red-copper fish skin, and works signed by Naomasa can be seen as imitations of Somin's style.
This work, Bairyu Taketora zu, also features Yokoya-style dragons and tigers delicately applied to the red-copper fish skin, showcasing Naomasa's exceptional skill.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Introducing a Tsuba from Wakeido
Title Fujikoshi Ryu-zu Tsuba
Signature Shohakudo Sunagawa Masayoshi (kao)
Certification The Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords (N.B.T.H.K.) Tokubetsu Hozon Tousogu
Dimensions Vertical 78 mm Horizontal 73.4 mm Seppa-dai thickness 4 mm
Period Late Edo period
School Sunagawa school
Description
He was the third head of the Sunagawa family and used the art-name Shohakudo.
He specialized in plant motifs such as chrysanthemums, orchids, and pines, as well as dragon designs.
This work skillfully depicts a dragon crossing Fuji in sukidashi carving, showing high technical ability.
The iron has a pleasing texture, and the workmanship is excellent.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Introduction to a Tsuba from Wakeido
Title Kasane kine sukashi Tsuba
Signature Unidentified (Mumei) Kanayama
Certification [N.B.T.H.K.] Tokubetsu Hozon Tousougu
Size Length 70mm Width 70mm Thickness 4.5mm
Period Momoyama period
School Kanayama
Description
The accepted view is that Kanayama tsuba were made around Owari, though some suggest production spanned from Mino into Owari.
Their history goes back as far as the mid-Muromachi period, with a heyday during the Sengoku era.
The style is somewhat small; the iron ground takes on a pleasing dark tone. The rim sometimes shows pronounced iron ridges and sometimes more gentle ones. Robust and full of character, they have a devoted following.
This piece displays fine iron character and attractive rim ridging, making it an excellent example that fully conveys the charm of Kanayama tsuba.
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Sword Exhibition and Sale Notice
Katanaza 2026 by Touza will take place today and tomorrow at Osaka Castle Hall and Shiromi Hall.
The weather is fine today, so please come enjoy a pleasant weekend.
We look forward to your visit.
Venue: Osaka Castle Hall and Shiromi Hall
Address: 3-1 Osaka Castle, Chuoku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 540-0002
Dates: Saturday, March 28, 2026 and Sunday, March 29, 2026
Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Admission: 1,000 yen on the day of the event
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
Sword Exhibition and Sales Notice
katanaza2026
One of western japan’s largest exhibitions and sales events for art swords and sword fittings will take place at Shiromi Hall in Osaka-jo Hall.
Sword dealers from across the country will gather, displaying renowned swords and masterpieces.
■ All swords and related items displayed and sold at the venue come with official registration certificates, so anyone may purchase them. Buyers should bring photo ID (driver’s license, health insurance card, etc.). (Sales to minors are not permitted.)
Wakeido will also have a booth. Please come by in this glorious spring season when the cherry blossoms are beautiful.
Venue: Osaka-jo Hall, Shiromi Hall
Address: 3-1 Osaka-jo, Chuoku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 540-0002
Dates: Saturday, March 28, 2026 and Sunday, March 29, 2026 (two days)
Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Admission: On the day: 1,000 yen
Advance at Lawson: 900 yen (L code 55755)
https://katanaza.jp//
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Japanese Sword – Wakeido posted.
From Wakeido, a product introduction.
This is a sword attributed to Narie of Bizen from the Nanbokucho period(AD1350).
Sword Mumei(unsigned) Nariie
Certif [N.B.T.H.K] Jyuyo Touken
Measurements Length 71.4 cm Sori (curvature) 15 mm Mekugi-ana (peg hole) 1
MOTO-HABA (base width) 32.5 mm SAKI-HABA (tip width) 25 mm MOTO-KASANE (base thickness) 7 mm
Province Bizen(Okayama)
Period Nanbokucho period
Shape Shinogi-zukuri, iorimune, wide mihaba with little difference between base and tip width, slightly thick kasane, shallow overall sori with a belly curve, large kissaki
Hada (forging) Itame with mokume and nagare textures mixed, somewhat prominent hada, ji-nie well attached in places, frequent chikei lines, faint utsuri appearing
Hamon (temper) Generally low tempered line, small tare mixed with gunome, a few sharp-pointed teeth-like elements, komasaari (small foot) present, nioigachi (prefers nioi), kansuji present, occasional niokuchi depression
Boshi (tip temper) Midare-komi with kansuji, on the omote the point is swept and looks yakitsume-like, on the ura it turns back shortly with a small round tip
Carving Bo-hi drilled through on both sides
Nakago (tang) O-suriage (shortened), saki-kiri, yasurime kiri
Commentary
Nariie of the Osafune school in Bizen Province is said by one account to be a descendant of Keishu (Mitsutada’s younger brother) and was active in the late Nanbokucho period as one of the smiths classified among those with kosori school. However, mei-kanki records list somewhat earlier years such as Bunwa through Koan, and based on style and mei characters a connection with Kanemitsu is also possible, requiring further study. His skill is comparable to Masamitsu of the Kanemitsu group from the same era.
This sword displays the Nanbokucho-era style with a wide mihaba and large kissaki. The jigane shows itame forging with somewhat prominent hada and frequent chikei, producing irregular areas of changed iron that appear thick in places. The hamon is low notare and mixed gunome, demonstrating the distinctive features of Nariie belonging to the Kosori school type. Above all, its heavy, majestic presence and the varied, striking forging make this an outstanding piece.
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