Katana - Fujiwara Naotane

Katana - Fujiwara Naotane with Saidan Mei

Katana in koshirae

Mei ( sigantura ): Made by Sōshi Mino-no-suke Fuji Naotane.

In May at the Kōgaku forge (kao).

Saidan Mei : Cut the body at the hips ( kuruma ) to the ground ( dotanbarai ) in Tokyo in Senjū

Nagasa 71.52 cm

Motohaba 3.3 cm

Kasane 0.83 cm

Era: Late Edo period

Naotane is considered one of the three most famous blacksmiths of the late Edo period.

Natane was born in the seventh year of the Anei era (1778) into a family that made sickles and agricultural tools in Dewa Koku (present-day Yamagata Prefecture). During the late Kansei era (1789-1801), he left his hometown and moved to Edo to become a student of Suishinshi Masahide, one of the most respected swordsmiths in Edo at the time.

In 1822, he received the honorary official title of Chikuzen Daijo (筑前大掾)

Naotane's work was highly regarded, as he played a crucial role in the history of Japanese swordsmanship at the end of the Edo period. He is said to have mastered all five Japanese sword traditions called Gokaten (五箇伝). These are Bizen DEN, Mino Den, Soshu Den, Yamashiro Den, and Yamato Den. He was particularly successful in Bizen and Soshu Den.

His master, Suishinshi Masahide, was an advocate of reviving the old traditions of swordsmithing. This movement is called Token Futsuko Ron (刀剣復古論). Naotane followed suit and mastered the exquisite craft. Naotane trained many famous blacksmiths, one of whom was Jiro Taro Naokatsu, who worked from 1805 to 1858. Naotane died at the age of 79 in 1857.