【Summary】 A very rare Katana by Yasutsugu(康継) with Aoi-mon (葵紋) carving, generally in good condition and with a lot of atmosphere. 【About Yasutsugu(康継) with Aoi-mon】 The Katana on which Aoi-Mon is engraved is the work of Echizen Yasutsugu (越前康継). The Aoi-mon consists of three hollyhock leaves arranged head to head and surrounded by a circle of normal thickness. It is the family crest of the Tokugawa family, the shoguns of the Edo Shogunate. In September 1600, just after the “Battle of Sekigahara,” Echizen Yasutsugu was recognized by Hideyasu Yuki (second son of Ieyasu Tokugawa), who entered Fukui Castle (Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture) as the lord of the castle, for his swordsmithing skills and was given a grant of 40 koku (40石) to become his personal swordsmith. In 1606, at the recommendation of Hideyasu Yuki, he became the official smith of the Edo shogunate. It was at this time that Tokugawa Ieyasu bestowed upon him the character “Yasu” (康). At the same time, he was allowed to carve the Aoi-mon, the family crest of the Tokugawa family, on the Katana. Echizen Yasutsugu's swords are highly valued even today, as his dedication to Atsuta Shrine has been designated as an Important Cultural Property, and as many as 11 short swords and Uchi-gatana have been designated as Important Art Objects. So what was Echizen Yasutsugu's reputation as a swordsmith at the time he was making Katana? We can see this from the various treatments that Echizen Yasutsugu received from the people around him. One of the most obvious examples is that Tokugawa Ieyasu gave him the Aoi-mon and the character “Yasu” (康). This is a proof that Echizen Yasutsugu's swordsmithing skills had been stamped by the shoguns of the time. The Echizen Yasutsugu sword with Aoi-mon also belonged to Hijikata Toshizo, a shogunate vassal and deputy chief of the Shinsengumi, and is in the collection of the Sato Hikogoro Shinsengumi Historical Museum in Hino City, Tokyo. Echizen Yasutsugu was also granted 40 koku of Goryokumai (rice paid by the Edo Shogunate), a mansion, and the privilege of “Shoyaku Gomen” (a person who has served as an official of a samurai is exempt from all duties) by Yuki Hideyasu. 【Blade/condition】 The sword is in very good condition. Please see photos for details. Aoi-mon(葵紋) is clearly engraved on Nakago. Kitae-Hada (鍛え肌) and Hamon (刃紋) can be clearly seen and enjoyed. Size Details; - Blade length(刃長) : 67.3cm - Sori(反り) : 0.9cm - Mekugi-ana(目釘穴) : 3 holes 【Koshirae】 Saya's colors are based on red. The Koshirae is old and have an austere appearance that evokes a sense of age. It is peeling in places. One of the parts of the preparation has been completely removed and is packed separately in a bag. Please see the photos we have taken for more details. Tsuba(鍔) has a lightning bolt design. 【Attention before bid】 This is a truly domestic Japanese sword that has never left Japan. When exporting, an export permit must be obtained. It takes about 20 business days from the time the buyer makes payment to the time the transportation process begins. This is because exporting Japanese swords requires permission from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Export of Japanese swords from Japan to other countries is restricted. Depending on the situation of the shipping company and your country of residence, it may not be possible to ship. We will of course do our best to send the item, but if no carrier is available, we have no choice but to cancel the transaction. (So far we have been able to transport them without any problems in most cases.) Regardless of the carrier's situation, China and Russia are banned from importing Japanese swords.