Japanese Samurai Sword Katana Chikugo Sumi Suketoshi NBTHK Hozon

Japanese Samurai Sword Katana Chikugo Sumi Suketoshi.

NBTHK Hozon Certified

This preserved Japanese sword is an authentic work attributed to Chikugo Sumi Suketoshi, a smith active at the pivotal transition from the late Muromachi period into the early Edo period (circa 1596). The blade is certified NBTHK Hozon, confirming its authenticity, historical value, and proper preservation.

Historical Context

Suketoshi was a disciple of Yokoyama Kagasuke Sukehisa and worked under the patronage of the Kurume domain in Chikugo Province. Smiths of this lineage are known for producing practical, battle-oriented blades during a time of near-constant warfare, just before the Tokugawa peace brought major changes to sword production.

The name and associated concept “Junkoku” meaning to sacrifice one’s life for the nation in times of crisis reflects the ideological climate of the era and the martial purpose behind such blades. Swords from this period were not ceremonial objects but true weapons forged for survival, loyalty, and duty.

Blade Characteristics

The blade displays a well balanced and powerful sugata typical of the late Muromachi period, with proportions favoring cutting efficiency and battlefield reliability. Its moderate curvature and strong width at the hamachi suggest a sword intended for real combat use rather than courtly display.

The relatively compact length, combined with a solid kasane, results in excellent handling characteristics fast in motion yet authoritative in the cut highly appreciated by both collectors and practitioners.

Specifications

• Certification  NBTHK Hozon

• Blade Length  62.8 cm

• Curvature (Sori)  1.0 cm

• Width at Hamachi  3.2 cm

• Kasane at Mune (Motoshige)  6.0 mm

• Width at Kissaki  2.25 cm

• Kasane at Kissaki  4.5 mm

• Period Late Muromachi  Early Edo (circa 1596)

• Province  Chikugo

  Samurai Use and Battlefield Context.

  Swords of this type would have been carried by mid to high ranking samurai during the final decades of the Sengoku period, a time when experience in real combat was decisive. The proportions of this blade—moderate length, strong width at the base, and solid kasane—are characteristic of swords intended for close quarters fighting, where reliability and cutting power were essential. Such a blade would have been worn edge-up through the obi and drawn quickly in skirmishes, castle engagements, or sudden encounters on the road.

  The relatively restrained curvature supports fast, direct cuts and controlled follow-through, ideal for armored opponents. This is not the sword of a court official, but of a warrior who understood that his weapon was a matter of survival, loyalty to his lord, and readiness to answer a call to arms at any moment. In this sense, the blade fully embodies the practical spirit of the late Muromachi samurai, forged to be used, trusted, and relied upon in life-and-death situations.

  Koshirae

  This sword is accompanied by a stunning koshirae, featuring dragon themed mountings and a matching dragon tsuba. The dragon, a powerful symbol of strength, protection, and authority in Japanese warrior culture, was traditionally favored by samurai seeking to project both martial power and spiritual resolve.

  The fittings are well balanced and visually coherent, enhancing the presence of the blade without overpowering it. Such koshirae would have suited a warrior of status, combining functionality with symbolic meaning, and allowing the sword to be worn with pride both on and off the battlefield.

Collector’s Note

Blades from Chikugo Province are increasingly appreciated for their robust workmanship and honest martial character. Combined with NBTHK Hozon papers and clear historical attribution, this sword represents a serious collector’s piece rooted firmly in Japan’s Sengoku legacy and the ethos of loyalty and sacrifice that defined the age.