TS90 Katana sword FUJISHIMA 1390s - Antique NBTHK Hozon certificate

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Item# TS090
Antique Katana sword in Ornate Mounting
Nanbokuchō to Early Muromachi Period, c. 1394–1428 CE
NBTHK Hozon certificated (Well Preserved certificate)

Swordsmith: Attributed to FUJISHIMA

A quality Katana sword from SAMURAI STORE Tokyo.

Nanbokuchō to Early Muromachi Period, c. 1394–1428 CE | NBTHK Hozon Certificate

An elegant early Fujishima blade with an ubu nakago, graceful Kyoto-style curvature, and a highly active gunome-midare hamon—preserving the refined character of a sword originally mounted and carried as a tachi.

This fine katana is attributed by the NBTHK to the Fujishima school (藤島) of Kaga Province and dates to around the Ōei era (1394–1428), at the transition from the Nanbokuchō to the early Muromachi period.

The Fujishima school traces its tradition to Fujishima Tomoshige (藤島友重), traditionally regarded as a student of Rai Kunitoshi of Yamashiro. The school established itself in Kaga Province around the end of the Kamakura and Nanbokuchō periods and flourished particularly from the Nanbokuchō through the Muromachi period.

Fujishima workmanship often retains an elegant Kyoto influence in its overall shape while displaying darker-toned steel and characteristics associated with both the Yamato and Bizen traditions. This combination gives Fujishima blades a distinctive character among the schools of medieval Japan.

An Elegant, Healthy Koto Blade

One of the most appealing features of this sword is its slender and graceful sugata with pronounced Kyoto-style curvature (Kyo-zori).

Despite its considerable age, the blade retains a healthy and elegant form. Its refined curvature gives the sword a distinctly classical appearance, quite different from the proportions commonly encountered in later Edo-period katana.

The jihada has a characteristically darker tone, with prominent ō-itame-hada clearly visible throughout the surface and abundant ji-nie adding texture and depth to the forged steel.

The hamon is a lively gunome-midare in ko-nie-deki, with sections developing into chōji. Throughout the hardened edge are frequent and beautiful activities, including sunagashi and kinsuji, producing flowing streaks and bright lines within the hamon.

These abundant hataraki give the blade the rich, organic appearance particularly prized in fine Koto swords.

Ubu Nakago – Evidence of Its Early Tachi Form

A particularly important feature of this sword is its ubu nakago (original, unshortened tang).

Many Japanese swords of this age were shortened during later centuries as styles of sword mounting and wearing changed. The preservation of the original tang therefore adds considerable historical interest to this example.

The position of the lower mekugi-ana is especially noteworthy. Its placement is consistent with the sword having originally been mounted and worn as a tachi, supporting the interpretation that this blade survives in essentially its original early configuration rather than having been substantially shortened and reshaped in a later period.

This is particularly attractive when considered together with the blade's elegant Kyo-zori: both the tang and the graceful curvature preserve the visual character of an early sword intended for tachi-style use.

Koshirae and Fittings

The sword is accompanied by an attractive koshirae of understated classical character.

The tsuka is finished with pale ito over traditional samegawa, while the iron tsuba features openwork and fine geometric decoration highlighted with gold. Its restrained ornamentation complements the elegant form of the blade without overwhelming it.

The glossy black lacquered saya has a beautifully simple appearance, giving the complete mounting a dignified and traditional presentation.

Also accompanying the sword is a finely decorated kozuka and kogatana, with delicate gold and silver-toned ornamentation against a dark ground. This small accessory adds another attractive element of traditional Japanese metalwork to the complete ensemble.

Collector’s Appeal

This sword brings together several qualities that make an early Japanese blade especially desirable: an NBTHK attribution to the historic Fujishima school, an ubu nakago, an elegant Kyo-zori sugata, and a highly active Koto-period hamon rich in sunagashi and kinsuji.

Most importantly, the original tang and the position of its mekugi-ana provide a fascinating connection to the sword's early history, suggesting that it was originally carried as a tachi more than six centuries ago.

With its graceful Kyoto-influenced form, dark and expressive forged steel, lively gunome and chōji activity, and tasteful antique koshirae, this is a particularly attractive sword for a collector seeking the unmistakable character of a genuine medieval Japanese blade.

Also Comes With:
Standard Sword Bag

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