Bushidoshop, Grootebroek (2026)

13/04/2026

NBTHK Hozon Minatogawa Shrine Katana Masakiyo Kikusui Gendaitō in Imperial Japanese Navy Kaiguntō Mounts June 1942

An exceptional example of a wartime shrine forged Japanese sword produced at the renowned Minatogawa Shrine forging workshop in Kobe. This katana was made in June of Showa 17 (1942) by the Minatogawa shrine swordsmith Masakiyo (正清) and bears the characteristic chrysanthemum motif associated with the Kikusui tradition. Blades from the Minatogawa Shrine forge represent an important chapter in modern Japanese sword history, where traditional methods and tamahagane steel were used to create high-quality gendaitō for officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The Minatogawa Shrine forge was established with the intention of producing swords that reflected the spirit of Japan’s classical sword-making tradition. The smiths working there had direct connections with the prestigious Yasukuni Shrine swordsmith association, where they refined their skills in traditional forging techniques before becoming official smiths at the Minatogawa Jinja Tanrensho. Among these craftsmen was Masakiyo, whose work is recognized for its disciplined shaping, elegant sugata and well controlled hamon.

This blade exhibits a refined and balanced form typical of high quality wartime gendaitō. The hamon follows the celebrated Kikusui theme, a symbolic motif representing the chrysanthemum crest floating on water, referencing the legendary association between Emperor Go-Daigo and the loyal samurai Kusunoki Masashige. The motif became closely associated with the Minatogawa Shrine forge and is a defining element of swords produced there. www.bushidoshop.nl

13/04/2026

For Sale

Samurai Daishō Katana & Wakizashi by Andō Hirokiyo
"A true daishō is not merely two swords worn together it is a single soul divided into two perfect blades, balanced in steel and unified in purpose."

The Harmony of the Daishō
This exceptional daishō represents the classical pairing of katana and wakizashi that for centuries symbolized the authority and status of the samurai. Forged in Heisei 3 (1991) by the accomplished swordsmith Andō Hirokiyo, the two blades were commissioned as a matched pair by the original owner.

Both the blades and mountings were created as part of a single carefully planned commission, reflecting the traditional Japanese concept of a harmonious daishō in which blade, mounting, and aesthetic balance form a unified whole. Combining the work of a highly skilled modern swordsmith with historical Edo period fittings, this daishō forms an elegant and visually powerful ensemble that reflects both the living tradition of Japanese swordmaking and the enduring legacy of the samurai.

The Master Smith: Andō Hirokiyo
Andō Hirokiyo (安藤広清), born Yukio Ando in 1947 in Okayama Prefecture, belongs to the modern generation of highly skilled swordsmiths dedicated to preserving the classical traditions of Japanese swordmaking. He trained under Kobayashi Yasuhiro and later became a senior disciple of the respected swordsmith Matsuba Kunimasa. In 1981, he established his forge in Tsuyama City where he devoted his work to the Bizen tradition.

His craftsmanship has been recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture, an acknowledgment reserved for artisans who contribute significantly to the preservation of traditional Japanese culture. His blades have been repeatedly selected for exhibitions of newly forged swords in Japan.
www.bushidoshop.nl

27/03/2026

For Sale,

Yoshihara Kuniie Tsuneie Mukansa Katana Tokubetsu Hozon, Sayagaki, Yoshihara Lineage

Mukansa level craftsmanship, Yoshihara lineage, Tokubetsu Hozon and signed sayagaki

Curatorial Overview

Forged in 1971 (Shōwa 46) by Yoshihara Kuniie, signing as Tsuneie, this katana is a Mukansa level work from the distinguished Yoshihara lineage.

The blade is executed as an utsushi of the celebrated Kuriyama Yokuro Sukesada, an Important Cultural Property (Jūyō Bunkazai) attributed to Yosozaemon no Jō Sukesada, one of the foremost masters of the Bizen Osafune tradition.
Works of this nature reflect a direct and deliberate engagement with the highest classical standards and are characteristic of accomplished master swordsmiths.
Yoshihara Lineage

Yoshihara Kuniie (real name Yoshihara Shoji), born in 1945 and passing in 2023, was a central figure within the modern Yoshihara lineage, working from Katsushika Ward in Tokyo.
He was the younger brother of the internationally renowned Yoshihara Yoshindo and trained within the family tradition, inheriting techniques rooted in earlier generations of master swordsmiths.
He received official sword making approval from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 1965 and quickly distinguished himself at the New Master Sword Exhibition, where he earned numerous special awards.
In 1982, at the age of 37, he was granted Mukansa status, the highest rank within the Japanese swordsmithing community, reserved for masters whose work is no longer subject to competition judging.

Over the course of his career, he held prominent positions within the All Japan Swordsmith Association, including Managing Director, Vice Chairman, and ultimately Chairman.
He was also recognized as an Intangible Cultural Property of Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, reflecting his cultural importance.
www.bushidoshop.nl

09/03/2026

Katana Takahashi Nobuhide
Osaka Gassan School Taishō Period, 1924 NBTHK Hozon Tōken

This distinguished katana was forged on an auspicious day in February 1924 (Taishō 13) by Takahashi Nobuhide (高橋信秀), one of the most accomplished senior swordsmiths of the Osaka Gassan tradition and a key figure in the revival of traditional Japanese swordmaking during the late Meiji to Taishō period.

Born in 1845 in Iyo Province (Ehime) under the name Ochi Shōzaemon, Nobuhide demonstrated exceptional talent from an early age. He was sent to Edo to study under Takahashi Naganobu, later marrying into the family and becoming his adopted successor. In the early Keiō era he relocated to Osaka, where he entered the circle of Gassan Teiichi, absorbing the refined forging techniques and aesthetic principles of the Gassan school. During his career he also signed works under the art name Seigunshi.

After the Meiji government’s sword bans temporarily halted production, Nobuhide resumed forging in the late Meiji period and continued actively into the Taishō era. His skill and reputation were such that in 1928 he was officially commissioned to forge a sword in connection with the enthronement ceremonies of the Shōwa Emperor, an honor reserved for swordsmiths of the highest standing.

This katana was forged when Nobuhide was approximately eighty years old, a remarkable testament to a lifetime of mastery. The blade presents a dignified and powerful sugata, reflecting the mature confidence of a senior master rather than youthful excess. It exemplifies the restrained elegance and technical discipline characteristic of high-quality late Gassan-influenced work.

The sword is preserved in perfect Japanese polish and is in excellent condition, allowing the workmanship to be appreciated clearly. It is accompanied by NBTHK Hozon papers, confirming it as a traditionally made Japanese sword of recognized historical and artistic value.

09/03/2026

For Sale,

Horii Hideaki Mikasa Tantō Forged from the Gun Steel of Admiral Tōgō’s Flagship

Tantō Horii Hideaki

Mikasa Gun Steel Commemorative Tantō
Shōwa Period, August 1930
NBTHK Hozon Tōken

This historically important tantō was forged in August 1930 (Shōwa 5) by Horii Hideaki (堀井秀明) using steel taken from the battleship Mikasa, the legendary flagship of Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō during the Russo-Japanese War. Mikasa, built in Great Britain by Vickers, occupies a unique position in Japanese history as the most celebrated warship of the Imperial Japanese Navy and a lasting symbol of Japan’s emergence as a modern naval power.

Horii Hideaki, whose real name was Horii Kanekichi, initially signed his work as Kaneaki before receiving the art name Hideaki in 1913 from the Sword Preservation Society, derived from the name of Suishinshi Masahide. He studied under Horii Taneyoshi and Horii Taketane, later becoming Taneyoshi’s adopted son and successor, and ultimately the third head of the Horii lineage. Hideaki belonged to the generation of highly skilled revivalist smiths who upheld orthodox swordmaking techniques during the transition from the Meiji to the Shōwa period.

01/03/2026

For Sale
Japanese Samurai Sword Katana Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu NBTHK Hozon .
Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu (real name Kasama Giichi, born 1886 in Shizuoka Prefecture) was trained under leading masters of his generation, including Miyaguchi Ikkansai Shigeju and Morioka Shōkichi of the Gassan school. Through this lineage, he mastered not only forging techniques but also refined blade engraving (horimono), for which he became especially respected.
His reputation led to his appointment as master instructor at Kurihara Hikosaburō’s Japanese Sword Training School. In 1935, Shigetsugu was commissioned to forge swords at the Tokiwamatsu Sword Research Institute at the Toyama residence, where he became chief swordsmith and was appointed to the Imperial Household Ministry’s sword department. After the Second World War, he played a vital role in preserving and transmitting traditional swordmaking techniques, educating the next generation of masters. Among his students were Tsukamoto Okimasa (later his son-in-law) and Miyairi Akihira, who would later be designated a Living National Treasure.
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28/02/2026

For Sale

Japanese Katana Moritoshi NBTHK Hozon Imperial Guard EfuTachi Mounting with Crane & Cloud Motifs

This remarkable Edo-period Japanese katana was forged by Moritoshi (守俊), real name Iwamoto Seizaemon, senior disciple of the legendary Kato Chōunsai Tsunatoshi, one of the foremost masters of the Shin-Shintō era.
Moritoshi served as official swordsmith to the Yoshikawa clan of the Iwakuni Domain, under the Chōshū Mori family. His mastery was such that Tsunatoshi I entrusted his successor to study under him, proof of the great esteem he commanded among samurai circles.

The blade shows a graceful, high-curved sugata, forged in a tight ko-itame hada with a luminous surface and gunome-midare hamon evoking the outline of Mount Fuji. Deep nioi-kuchi, lively ashi, and refined activity across the hamon reveal the superb heat control of a seasoned master. The sword feels perfectly balanced in hand—a harmony of beauty, strength, and precision.
Certified by the NBTHK Hozon Token, it is officially recognized as an authentic and preserved Japanese sword of significant cultural value.

Imperial Guard Mounting Crane & Cloud Design

The ornate Efu-tachi koshirae is a highlight in itself. This style was traditionally worn by the Imperial Guards (Efu) and high court officials during state ceremonies symbols of protection for the Emperor.
www.bushidoshop.nl

20/01/2026

For Sale

Japanese Katana Omiya Jugen Teruhide NBTHK Hozon

Nichiten Forge Kurihara Akihide School
NBTHK Hozon (Preserved Sword)

This refined Shōwa-period katana was forged by Ihara Teruhide, also known as Omiya Jugen Teruhide, an accomplished swordsmith active in Ōmiya, Saitama Prefecture. He belonged to the Nichiten Forge tradition and was a direct disciple of Kurihara Akihide, one of the most influential instructors of modern Japanese swordsmiths.
The blade exemplifies the disciplined and functional elegance of the Kurihara school, with strong proportions, a confident sugata, and excellent overall balance. The NBTHK Hozon certification confirms the sword as an authentic Japanese sword of recognized historical and artistic value.
The Koshirae and mounting are typical Dragon style
checkout mine website for more details
www.bushidoshop.nl

09/01/2026

For Sale

Katana Niwa Kanenobu Important Intanglible Cultural Property NBTHK Hozon.

This exceptional katana was forged in 1968 (Shōwa 43) by Niwa Kanenobu, also known as Tamba Shūji, one of the most important post war masters of the Mino (Nōshū) tradition and a state-recognized preserver of traditional swordmaking and swordsmith engraving.

Niwa Kanenobu (丹波守兼信), born Niwa Shūji in 1903, was trained by his father Niwa Kanematsu (Kanenobu) and devoted over sixty years to the art of swordmaking. In 1973 (Shōwa 48), he was designated Important Intangible Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture as a holder of the traditional techniques of Japanese sword forging and horimono. Only two lineages—Kanenobu and the Gassan school were officially recognized for swordsmith-executed engraving, placing his work among the rarest of the Shōwa period.
www.bushidoshop.nl

09/12/2025

For Sale

Samurai Sword Katana Bishū-jū Katsushige Sengo School Muramasa Lineage

Bishū-jū Fujiwara Katsushige (勝重)
Descendant of Muramasa Sengo School
Disciple of Sengo Masashige (son of Muramasa)
Honorary title: Mikawa no Kami (三河守)

Katsushige forged blades in Kuwana (Ise) and Nagoya (Owari) during the Kanbun Era. His name carries martial symbolism — 勝 (Katsu) = Victory, 重 (Shige) = Consecutive and his swords were believed to bring victory upon victory to the warrior who carried them. This made his work especially valued among samurai of rank and status.

The blade has excelent polish, bright and exceptionally healthy, allowing the steel activity and hamon to be clearly admired.
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26/11/2025

Sold

Japanese Samurai Daishō Kono Sadamitsu (Gassan School)
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Sō-no-Kurikara Horimono

A very rare matched daishō (katana & wakizashi) by Bizen-ju Kono Sadamitsu, both dated Showa 59 (1984) and awarded NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon together as a set.

Sadamitsu (real name Kono Hiroshi, b. 1950) is a leading Gendai smith from Fukuoka. He first learned from his father Kunimitsu, then entered the forge of Living National Treasure Gassan Sadaichi (Gassan Teiichi), head of the modern Gassan line and grandson of the famous Gassan Sadakazu.
Among Sadaichi’s students, Sadamitsu was regarded as one of the most skilled; he was granted the character “Sada” (貞) from his master and from then on signed Sadamitsu.

His swords are famed for their combination of beautiful Gassan-style jigane and fearsome cutting ability. Because of this, he is often nicknamed “Ima Kotetsu” – the modern Kotetsu and enjoys a very high reputation among martial artists and tameshigiri specialists.
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