NA 2026.002
Last revised
Nihontō · Katana · Koshirae
Masanori Katana
大和大掾正則
Early Edo · Shintō
A long mumei Early Edo katana attributed by the NBTHK to Yamato Daijō Masanori, accompanied by a black-lacquer koshirae whose fuchi, kashira, and menuki form a coordinated dragonfly ensemble.
AttributionYamato Daijō Masanori · 大和大掾正則Mumei; NBTHK Hozon attribution issued 1 December 2025
- Nagasa
- 69.7 cm
- Sori
- 1.8 cm
- NBTHK paper
- Hozon Tōken · 2025
Object record
Overview
Object record
- Item
- Katana (刀), full koshirae
- Attribution
- Yamato Daijō Masanori · 大和大掾正則
- Inscription
- Mumei · 無銘
- Period
- Early Edo · Shintō
- Material
- Traditional forged steel · material not independently tested
Measurements
- Nagasa
- 69.7 cm · 27.44 in
- Sori
- 1.8 cm · 0.70 in
- Total length
- 105.0 cm · 41.33 in
- Weight
- Blade 589 g · total 1,124 g
- Mekugi-ana
- One
Appraisal paper
- NBTHK
- Hozon Tōken · No. 3038028
- Issued
- 1 December 2025 · Reiwa 7
Photographic record
Plates · 22
Available views arranged as a comparative object study; descriptions distinguish observation from documentary attribution.
Click underlined specialist terms for concise notes and construction diagrams.
I
Documents & identity
鑑定書
2 plates
Plate I.1 · 鑑定書
NBTHK origami · No. 3038028.
Issued on 1 December 2025 (Reiwa 7) by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords (日本美術刀剣保存協会; NBTHK). The paper identifies the object as a katana (刀), unsigned (; 無銘), with the parenthetical attribution ‘Yamato Daijō Masanori’ (大和大掾正則), and gives its length as slightly under two shaku three sun (長 二尺三寸弱). It certifies the blade as (保存刀剣). The attached registration label is redacted in the public reproduction.
Plate I.3 · 茎
· and .
The is pierced by one . Patina, , and the are documented across the and .
II
Blade
刀身
11 plates
Plate II.1 · 刀身
· and .
The complete 69.7 cm blade is paired from to on and . Recorded is 1.8 cm; the unobstructed silhouettes form the clearest photographic record of overall shape.
Plate II.2 · 刀身 · 表
Blade · overall.
The exposed is aligned with its mounted hilt and glossy black .
Plate II.3 · 鋒 · 表
· .
The point, , , and hardened edge are recorded in raking light. Light scuffs and surface marks remain visible and have not been retouched.
Plate II.4 · 鎺 · 表
–– junction · .
A copper-coloured inner projects beneath a dark outer sleeve whose bears a radial, mon-like relief. Copper-toned and finely serrated silver-toned frame the and its fitted ; above it, the yellow-metal carries a dragonfly in relief.
Plate II.5 · 刃文 · 表
Blade · sectional survey.
Three close sections preserve the changing edge activity, surface reflections, and visible polish condition.
Plate II.6 · 刀身 · 裏
Blade · overall.
The view carries the blade’s and taper from to in one uninterrupted line. At the mounting junction, the clustered-roundel face of the outer , layered , , and dragonfly remain visible beside the glossy black .
Plate II.7 · 鋒 · 裏
· .
The is shown against a blue background. Changed illumination reveals another segment of the point surface and visible polish condition.
Plate II.8 · 鎺 · 裏
–– junction · .
The dark outer sleeve carries a different design composed of clustered circular bosses around a larger central roundel. This reverse view also records the copper inner collar, paired layers, the fitted of the , and another portion of the dragonfly relief on the .
Plate II.9 · 刃文 · 裏
Blade · sectional survey.
Three corresponding sections preserve the under directional lighting. Together with Plate II.5, they form a paired survey of both blade surfaces.
Plate II.10 · 鋒
· supplementary view.
A further point study records surface, edge, and visible area under stronger illumination. No detail hidden by glare is inferred.
Plate II.11 · 地鉄
Blade surface survey.
The four-panel archival composite records steel surfaces at close range. It supplements the and sequences where broader framing obscures smaller marks and texture.
III
Koshirae & fittings
拵 · 分解
6 plates
Plate III.1 · 拵 · 分解
Disassembly layout.
The laid-out mounting stack runs from the small wooden through the decorated two-part , a copper-toned , a serrated silver-toned , the with fitted , and a matching pair of silver- and copper-toned before the . The glossy black and brown are shown alongside.
Plate III.2 · 拵
Fully sheathed · both sides.
Two side views of the same sheathed sword show the glossy black lacquered , black , and brown . The is wrapped in brown ito over pale ; one dragonfly is visible on each side, coordinated with the dragonfly and .
Plate III.3 · 柄・蜻蛉目貫
· dragonfly .
Brown ito is laid in alternating over pale . A yellow-metal dragonfly —with compact body, prominent eyes, and four spread wings—sits beneath the central crossings; the open and wear at the end remain visible.
Plate III.4 · 頭・蜻蛉
· dragonfly motif.
A single stylized dragonfly spreads four elongated wings across the rounded end cap, its compact head and body centered between them. Wear on the yellow-metal surface and darker recessed lines make the relief construction legible.
Plate III.5 · 縁・蜻蛉
· dragonfly motif.
A dragonfly extends across the collar in low relief, with a compact central body, paired wings, and fine engraved lines defining the insect and surrounding ground. Surface wear softens the exposed yellow-metal relief while the recessed work remains darker.
Plate III.6 · 鍔・十弁菊形
· construction.
The plate is shaped as a ten-petal chrysanthemum (). A separately fitted follows every convex petal and concave return of the , demanding close forming and a continuous fit around the complex perimeter. Shallow radial lines articulate the petals; a gourd-shaped and oval remain open, while copper adjust the at top and bottom.
IV
Mounted & storage
抜身 · 表
3 plates
Plate IV.1 · 抜身 · 表
Mounted and drawn · .
The long bare blade is shown beside the glossy black and brown . At the , brown in lies over pale ; a yellow-metal dragonfly , the dragonfly , with fitted , and decorated of the two-part remain legible.
Plate IV.2 · 抜身 · 裏
Mounted and drawn · .
The repeats the full-object arrangement while revealing the clustered-roundel decoration on the opposite face. The black lacquer , brown , dragonfly fittings, and contrasting pale remain visible under slightly different reflections.
Plate IV.3 · 刀袋
Brocade storage bag and tasselled cord.
The fully sheathed rests on a pale brocade bag woven with large birds, foliage, and multicoloured accents. A separate orange cord with paired tassels accompanies the ensemble.
Photographs courtesy of Katana-Boutique, used with permission.
Revision history
- Added the redacted appraisal paper and separated the object-specific fukurin study from the shared glossary definition.
- Public catalogue record established.