A YASUUJI KATANA This formidable shinshintô period katana was crafted by Yasuuji, the early name of Yasuyuki, who represented the 60th generation of the prestigious Naminohira school from Satsuma province in Kyûshû. Created during the Kansei era, this katana is particularly noteworthy for its adherence to pure Yamato tradition characteristics. The steel displays a fine combination of ko-itame and masamehada patterns, complemented by a brilliant suguha-hamon executed in sparkling nie crystals with ashi formations reminiscent of solar flares. The nakago features the distinctive higaki file marks, another Yamato-den hallmark. The sword rests in an elegant Meiji-period koshirae with remarkable fittings that include a tsuba depicting insects crawling across realistic wood grain, while the polished brass fuchi-kashira contrast scenes of a pensive hermit with joyful birds soaring over waves. The Naminohira school is one of the oldest swordmaking traditions said to have begun working in Satsuma province way back in 987AD. Satsuma province is located at the southern end of Japan's southernmost island Kyûshû. The island is known for its high-quality sand iron that was found on its rivers and beaches. The pioneering smiths of the Naminohira school originally travelled from Japan's old capital Yamato province, present-day Nara prefecture, and most impressively, this school worked uninterrupted right up to the end of the Edo-period 1868. The two kanji characters that form Naminohira are Nami, meaning 'wave', and hira being 'flat', thus translating to calm seas. Swords of the Naminohira school were said to have been prized by the Japanese navy for their name carried such a good omen. This strong and valiant katana is the work of Yasuuji, the early smithing name of Yasuyuki who counted himself as the 60th generation [wow] of the Naminohira school. Its NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate states the sword was made during the Kansei era (1789~1801) during the shinshintố period. Born Hashiguchi Kannojô, Yasuuji was the son of the 59th Naminohira-gen Yasutsune. In the early years of his career, Yasuuji also signed Yasukuni, but moved on to Yasuyuki, the most iconic name of the school, in the first year of Kyôwa (1801). Yasuuji died on the May 10, 1808 during the Bunka era at the age of just 66. Yasuuji was immensely faithful to his Yamato-den roots which makes this sword rather special indeed. The blade is densely forged in ko-itame and masame-hada with a bright and generous suguha-hamon in sparkling nie-deki with ashi that look like solar flares. Look out for the unique higaki yasurime on the nakago which another centuries-old trait of its Yamato heritage. A splendid Meji-period leather-wrapped koshirae houses the sword with gorgeous fittings that include insects crawling over a highly realistic woodgrain tsuba and a polished brass fuchi-kashira featuring a chilledout hermit and jubilant scene of birds flying over waves.