Jiro Taro Naokatsu — Katana (1839)
Naotane lineage (Yamagata / Edo)
Smith: Jiro Taro Naokatsu (次郎太郎直勝)
Signed: Jiro Taro Naokatsu (次郎太郎直勝), Tenpō 10 Tsutinoto-I Haru 2-gatsu Hi (天保十己亥年春二月日, Spring February 1839)
Shinshintō — Late Edo period, February 1839 (Tenpō 10)
Measurements
Sori
1.88 cm (0.74 in)
Motohaba
3.2 cm (1.26 in)
Sakihaba
2.15 cm (0.85 in)
Kasane
0.7 cm (0.28 in)
Blade Characteristics
Hamon
Gunome-midare with tight nioiguchi, much sunagashi and kinsuji; boshi midare and turns back
Hada
Fine ko-itame, plain surface with utsuri-like nie
Bōshi
Midare, turns back
Nakago Notes
1 mekugi-ana; dated inscription (February 1839)
Mountings & Fittings
Koshirae Notes
Katana in shirasaya with koshirae; single copper habaki. Iron tsuba carved with chrysanthemum and paulownia; shakudo-base fuchi; horn kashira; figure-and-dog menuki
Papers & Documentation
Appraisal Status
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
NBTHK / NTHK Notes
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate; ranked Jōjō Saku. Aoi-Art estimation paper with whole oshigata.
Provenance
Listed by Aoi Art (aoijapan.com), Ordering No. 26248
About This Object
A Shinshintō katana by Jirōtarō Naokatsu, dated February 1839. Born in Yamagata, Naokatsu moved to Edo and studied under Naotane, later marrying Naotane's daughter and becoming his adopted heir. He produced many substitute works for Naotane in his later years; both smiths died within a year of each other (1858–59), making Naokatsu's own signed works relatively rare.