13/10/2022
◾️Late Edo Katana signed by Motohira
Hello, world! Thank you for checking our daily post. Today, we would like to show you one of the late Edo period antique Katanas.
This blade was signed by Oku Yamato no Kami Taira Ason Motohira (奥大和守平朝臣元平) according to NBTHK, while ”Ason Motohira” part was cut due to Suriage (size adjustment) in the past. The back of the tang says the 8th year of the Kansei era, which means the blade was forged in 1796 (the late Edo period). Motohira is one of the most renowned swordsmiths in Satsuma domain (Today’s Kagoshima prefecture) during the late Edo period.
He was born in October, the first year of the Enkyo era (1744), as the first son of Oku Motonao in Satsuma domain. His birth name was Oku Kouzaemon. It was often the case with many swordsmiths that they used different makers’ names from their real names.
In his early career, he learned sword-forging techniques from his father, and when he was 38 years old, he became a Hanko (藩工), who exclusively forged swords for a specific clan.
This fact suggests that his craftsmanship was widely recognized in the domain. Furthermore, he received Yamato no Kami in the first year of the Kansei era (1789).
More information is available from the link below.
https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-japanese-sword-katana-signed-by-motohira-nbthk-hozon-certificate/
