{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "canonicalUrl": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/objects/masanori-katana/",
  "recordUrl": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/objects/masanori-katana/record.json",
  "accession": "NA 2026.002",
  "title": "Masanori Katana",
  "japaneseTitle": "大和大掾正則",
  "classification": {
    "category": "nihonto",
    "form": "katana",
    "presentation": [
      "koshirae"
    ]
  },
  "period": "Early Edo · Shintō",
  "summary": "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.",
  "attribution": {
    "label": "Yamato Daijō Masanori",
    "japanese": "大和大掾正則",
    "qualifier": "Mumei; NBTHK Hozon attribution issued 1 December 2025"
  },
  "highlights": [
    {
      "label": "Nagasa",
      "value": "69.7 cm"
    },
    {
      "label": "Sori",
      "value": "1.8 cm"
    },
    {
      "label": "NBTHK paper",
      "value": "Hozon Tōken · 2025"
    }
  ],
  "revisedOn": "2026-07-23",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "date": "2026-07-22",
      "note": "Public catalogue record established."
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-07-23",
      "note": "Added the redacted appraisal paper and separated the object-specific fukurin study from the shared glossary definition."
    }
  ],
  "hero": {
    "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/11.jpg",
    "alt": "Mumei katana attributed to Yamato Daijō Masanori mounted and drawn beside its black lacquered saya"
  },
  "sections": [
    {
      "title": "Object record",
      "facts": [
        {
          "label": "Item",
          "value": "Katana (刀), full koshirae"
        },
        {
          "label": "Attribution",
          "value": "Yamato Daijō Masanori · 大和大掾正則"
        },
        {
          "label": "Inscription",
          "value": "Mumei · 無銘"
        },
        {
          "label": "Period",
          "value": "Early Edo · Shintō"
        },
        {
          "label": "Material",
          "value": "Traditional forged steel · material not independently tested"
        }
      ],
      "notes": [
        {
          "lead": "Attribution note.",
          "body": "The blade is unsigned. The NBTHK paper records a parenthetical attribution to 大和大掾正則; the name is not a mei on the nakago."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Measurements",
      "facts": [
        {
          "label": "Nagasa",
          "value": "69.7 cm · 27.44 in"
        },
        {
          "label": "Sori",
          "value": "1.8 cm · 0.70 in"
        },
        {
          "label": "Total length",
          "value": "105.0 cm · 41.33 in"
        },
        {
          "label": "Weight",
          "value": "Blade 589 g · total 1,124 g"
        },
        {
          "label": "Mekugi-ana",
          "value": "One"
        }
      ],
      "notes": [
        {
          "lead": "Condition note.",
          "body": "Normal age wear, visible scratches, and localized staining appear in the photographs. The images are documentary, not a substitute for inspection in hand."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Appraisal paper",
      "facts": [
        {
          "label": "NBTHK",
          "value": "Hozon Tōken · No. 3038028"
        },
        {
          "label": "Issued",
          "value": "1 December 2025 · Reiwa 7"
        }
      ],
      "notes": []
    }
  ],
  "plates": [
    {
      "number": "I.1",
      "group": "I",
      "groupTitle": "Documents & identity",
      "title": "NBTHK Hozon Tōken origami · No. 3038028.",
      "japanese": "鑑定書",
      "caption": "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 (mumei; 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 Hozon Tōken (保存刀剣). The attached registration label is redacted in the public reproduction.",
      "alt": "Opened NBTHK Hozon Tōken origami number 3038028 with attached tang photograph; registration label redacted",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/02.jpg",
      "redacted": true
    },
    {
      "number": "I.3",
      "group": "I",
      "groupTitle": "Documents & identity",
      "title": "Nakago · omote and ura.",
      "japanese": "茎",
      "caption": "The mumei nakago is pierced by one mekugi-ana. Patina, yasurime, and the nakago-jiri are documented across the omote and ura.",
      "alt": "Omote and ura of the unsigned katana tang with one mekugi ana",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/16.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.1",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Sugata · omote and ura.",
      "japanese": "刀身",
      "caption": "The complete 69.7 cm blade is paired from nakago to kissaki on omote and ura. Recorded sori is 1.8 cm; the unobstructed silhouettes form the clearest photographic record of overall shape.",
      "alt": "Full bare katana blade shown from omote and ura against a dark background",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/17.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.2",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Blade · omote overall.",
      "japanese": "刀身 · 表",
      "caption": "The exposed omote is aligned with its mounted hilt and glossy black saya.",
      "alt": "Katana blade omote beside its black scabbard and mounted hilt",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/03.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.3",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Kissaki · omote.",
      "japanese": "鋒 · 表",
      "caption": "The point, yokote, fukura, and hardened edge are recorded in raking light. Light scuffs and surface marks remain visible and have not been retouched.",
      "alt": "Close view of katana kissaki, omote",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/04.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.4",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Tsuka–tsuba–habaki junction · omote.",
      "japanese": "鎺 · 表",
      "caption": "A copper-coloured inner habaki projects beneath a dark outer sleeve whose omote bears a radial, mon-like relief. Copper-toned and finely serrated silver-toned seppa frame the jūben kiku-gata tsuba and its fitted fukurin; above it, the yellow-metal fuchi carries a dragonfly in relief.",
      "alt": "Katana omote junction with decorated two-part habaki seppa chrysanthemum form tsuba and dragonfly fuchi",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/05.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.5",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Blade omote · sectional survey.",
      "japanese": "刃文 · 表",
      "caption": "Three close sections preserve the changing edge activity, surface reflections, and visible polish condition.",
      "alt": "Stacked close views of katana blade omote from kissaki to habaki",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/06.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.6",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Blade · ura overall.",
      "japanese": "刀身 · 裏",
      "caption": "The ura view carries the blade’s shinogi and taper from machi to kissaki in one uninterrupted line. At the mounting junction, the clustered-roundel face of the outer habaki, layered seppa, jūben kiku-gata tsuba, and dragonfly fuchi remain visible beside the glossy black saya.",
      "alt": "Katana blade ura beside its black scabbard and mounted hilt",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/07.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.7",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Kissaki · ura.",
      "japanese": "鋒 · 裏",
      "caption": "The ura is shown against a blue background. Changed illumination reveals another segment of the point surface and visible polish condition.",
      "alt": "Close view of katana kissaki, ura",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/08.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.8",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Tsuka–tsuba–habaki junction · ura.",
      "japanese": "鎺 · 裏",
      "caption": "The dark outer habaki sleeve carries a different ura design composed of clustered circular bosses around a larger central roundel. This reverse view also records the copper inner collar, paired seppa layers, the fitted fukurin of the jūben kiku-gata tsuba, and another portion of the dragonfly relief on the fuchi.",
      "alt": "Katana ura junction with decorated two-part habaki seppa chrysanthemum form tsuba and dragonfly fuchi",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/09.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.9",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Blade ura · sectional survey.",
      "japanese": "刃文 · 裏",
      "caption": "Three corresponding sections preserve the ura under directional lighting. Together with Plate II.5, they form a paired survey of both blade surfaces.",
      "alt": "Stacked close views of katana blade ura from kissaki to habaki",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/10.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.10",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Kissaki · supplementary view.",
      "japanese": "鋒",
      "caption": "A further point study records surface, edge, and visible boshi area under stronger illumination. No detail hidden by glare is inferred.",
      "alt": "Additional close view of katana kissaki surface and edge",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/18.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "II.11",
      "group": "II",
      "groupTitle": "Blade",
      "title": "Blade surface survey.",
      "japanese": "地鉄",
      "caption": "The four-panel archival composite records steel surfaces at close range. It supplements the omote and ura sequences where broader framing obscures smaller marks and texture.",
      "alt": "Four close views of katana blade surfaces ridge and edge",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/23.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "III.1",
      "group": "III",
      "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings",
      "title": "Disassembly layout.",
      "japanese": "拵 · 分解",
      "caption": "The laid-out mounting stack runs from the small wooden mekugi through the decorated two-part habaki, a copper-toned seppa, a serrated silver-toned seppa, the jūben kiku-gata tsuba with fitted fukurin, and a matching pair of silver- and copper-toned seppa before the tsuka. The glossy black saya and brown sageo are shown alongside.",
      "alt": "Disassembled Masanori katana koshirae with blade saya tsuka mekugi habaki four seppa and tsuba",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/14.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "III.2",
      "group": "III",
      "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings",
      "title": "Fully sheathed koshirae · both sides.",
      "japanese": "拵",
      "caption": "Two side views of the same sheathed sword show the glossy black lacquered saya, black kurikata, and brown sageo. The tsuka is wrapped in brown ito over pale samegawa; one dragonfly menuki is visible on each side, coordinated with the dragonfly fuchi and kashira.",
      "alt": "Fully sheathed Masanori katana koshirae shown from both sides with black lacquer saya and dragonfly fittings",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/13.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "III.3",
      "group": "III",
      "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings",
      "title": "Tsuka · dragonfly menuki.",
      "japanese": "柄・蜻蛉目貫",
      "caption": "Brown ito is laid in alternating hineri-maki over pale samegawa. A yellow-metal dragonfly menuki—with compact body, prominent eyes, and four spread wings—sits beneath the central crossings; the open mekugi-ana and wear at the kashira end remain visible.",
      "alt": "Brown wrapped katana tsuka over pale samegawa with dragonfly menuki and open mekugi ana",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/20.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "III.4",
      "group": "III",
      "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings",
      "title": "Kashira · dragonfly motif.",
      "japanese": "頭・蜻蛉",
      "caption": "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.",
      "alt": "Yellow metal katana kashira with stylized dragonfly in relief",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/19.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "III.5",
      "group": "III",
      "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings",
      "title": "Fuchi · dragonfly motif.",
      "japanese": "縁・蜻蛉",
      "caption": "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.",
      "alt": "Yellow metal katana fuchi with dragonfly in relief",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/21.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "III.6",
      "group": "III",
      "groupTitle": "Koshirae & fittings",
      "title": "Jūben kiku-gata tsuba · fukurin construction.",
      "japanese": "鍔・十弁菊形",
      "caption": "The plate is shaped as a ten-petal chrysanthemum (jūben kiku-gata). A separately fitted fukurin follows every convex petal and concave return of the mimi, demanding close forming and a continuous fit around the complex perimeter. Shallow radial lines articulate the petals; a gourd-shaped kozuka-hitsu and oval kōgai-hitsu remain open, while copper sekigane adjust the nakago-ana at top and bottom.",
      "alt": "Juben kiku gata tsuba with fitted fukurin two hitsu ana and copper sekigane",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/22.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "IV.1",
      "group": "IV",
      "groupTitle": "Mounted & storage",
      "title": "Mounted and drawn · omote.",
      "japanese": "抜身 · 表",
      "caption": "The long bare blade is shown beside the glossy black saya and brown sageo. At the tsuka, brown tsukaito in hineri-maki lies over pale samegawa; a yellow-metal dragonfly menuki, the dragonfly fuchi-kashira, jūben kiku-gata tsuba with fitted fukurin, and decorated omote of the two-part habaki remain legible.",
      "alt": "Mounted katana with blade exposed beside black scabbard, omote",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/11.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "IV.2",
      "group": "IV",
      "groupTitle": "Mounted & storage",
      "title": "Mounted and drawn · ura.",
      "japanese": "抜身 · 裏",
      "caption": "The ura repeats the full-object arrangement while revealing the clustered-roundel decoration on the opposite habaki face. The black lacquer saya, brown sageo, dragonfly fittings, and contrasting pale samegawa remain visible under slightly different reflections.",
      "alt": "Mounted katana with blade exposed beside black scabbard, ura",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/12.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    },
    {
      "number": "IV.3",
      "group": "IV",
      "groupTitle": "Mounted & storage",
      "title": "Brocade storage bag and tasselled cord.",
      "japanese": "刀袋",
      "caption": "The fully sheathed koshirae rests on a pale brocade bag woven with large birds, foliage, and multicoloured accents. A separate orange cord with paired tassels accompanies the ensemble.",
      "alt": "Fully sheathed Masanori katana on pale bird and foliage brocade storage bag with orange tasseled cord",
      "image": "https://zufu.whiskey.works/media/na-2026-002/24.jpg",
      "redacted": false
    }
  ],
  "rights": {
    "catalogue": "© 2026 whiskey.works",
    "photographs": "Courtesy of Katana-Boutique, used with permission. No downstream reproduction permission is granted."
  }
}