Daisho 大小 of three swords 三本の剣 (Katana/Wakizashi/Tanto) Koto Bingo Mihara School Muromachi jidai 室町時代
The Koshirae 拵え set (Fuchi/Kashira, Menuki, Tsuba, Kozuka and Kogai) show tiger and dragon "Tora to ryū" 虎と龍 theme
Tsuba suite attributed to the famous master Yanagawa Naomasa 柳川 直政
Kai Mihara blades each of them certified by the Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai 日本美術刀剣保存協会
the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords (NBTHK)

 

Katana Blade:

Cutting edge length: 70,4 cm.
Nagasa: 69,5 cm.
Motohaba: 3,1 cm.
Sakihaba: 2,1 cm.
Motogasane: 0,7 cm.
Sakigasane: 0,5 cm.
Sori: 1,4 cm.
Mei: Mumei 無名
Nakago hole: Three
Hamon: Hoso-suguha 細直刃 a very narrow straight Hamon
Hada: Mokume partly Masame allvery highly visible with Itame combined this last near Muji hard to see as usual.
School: Mihara
Province: Bingo
Age: Muromachi jidai 室町時代
Attested: NBTHK Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai 日本美術刀剣保存協会

 

Wakizashi Blade:


Nagasa: 49,9 cm. 
Motohaba: 2,7 cm. 
Sakihaba: 1,7 cm.
Motogasane: 0,6 cm. 
Sakigasane: 0,4 cm.
Sori: 0,8 cm.
Bo-Hi: Soe Hi (It is like a double bohi , There is a narrow hi along the bohi on each blade side)
Mei: Mumei 無名
Nakago hole: Three
School: Mihara
Province: Bingo
Age: Muromachi jidai 室町時代
Attested: NBTHK Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai 日本美術刀剣保存協会

 

Tanto Blade:

Sunnobi Tanto - Hira-Zukuri,
Nagasa: 32,9 cm.
Total length : 530mm (20.87 in.)
Motohaba : 2,7 cm.
Sakihaba : 1,9 cm.
Motokasane : 0,7 cm.
Sakikasane : 4,5 cm.
Sori: 0,4 cm.
Weight : 438 gr.
Nakago hole: One
School: Mihara (with Jigane still has the atmosphere of Yamato School)
Province: Bingo
Age: Muromachi jidai 室町時代
Attested: NBTHK Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai 日本美術刀剣保存協会

 

The Muromachi period or Muromachi era (室町時代, Muromachi jidai), also known as the Ashikaga period or Ashikaga era (足利時代, Ashikaga jidai),  
The Sengoku period 戦国時代 litterally 'Warring States period' is the period in Japanese history in which civil wars and social riots took place almost continuously into the 15th and 16th centuries, the Ōnin War from year 1467 is generally chosen as the Sengoku period's start date, largely overlaps with the Muromachi period. The Muromachi period is succeeded by the Azuchi–Momoyama period (1568–1600)

 

Blades condition:
Polishing: Not recent but very well preserved,
Edged: Remain very sharp
Blade condition: There is no fault or defect worth noting. The blades condition is generally appropriate to its age, with a good polish that is not recent but well maintained. You can see the condition in the photos, but if you have any questions, I will send you other photos or I will answer them as best as possible, of course. Please watch the detailed pictures, as I say ask me any questions about this very ancient blades.

 

Original Japanese papers accompanying each blade

Three Kantei 鑑定attested blade identification:
Nippon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK) 日本美術刀剣保存協会 Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords original Japanese certification of authenticity.
Old NBTHK papers dated from  the years 1963/1979. Each of the certifications says that they are Koto sword blades from the Mihara 三原 School from the indicated period.

 

The Koto Mihara School and about the time of these blades:

This School had been prospered from the late Kamakura to late Muromachi period in Bingo province. The representative swordsmiths were Masaie and Masahiro. Rising above the times, the school had been influenced by the Yamato School. There had been many shoen; manors in medieval Japan in Bingo province ruled by the shrines and temples of Yamato province.

The precise ages of Japan at the estimated time of these blades: Tenbun (天文) era from the Sengoku (戦国時代) period

The Sengoku period (Japanese: 戦国時代, Hepburn: Sengoku Jidai, lit. 'Warring States period') is the period in Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries. Though the Ōnin War (1467) is generally chosen as the Sengoku period's start date, there are many competing historiographies for its end date, ranging from 1568,

Tenbun (天文) or Tenmon was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, "year name") after Kyōroku and before Kōji. Period from July 1532 to October 1555. The emperor was Go-Nara-tennō (後奈良天皇).

Beginning and end of this Tenbun historic era with its outstanding events:
1532 Tenbun gannen (天文元年): At the request of Ashikaga Yoshiharu, the 12th shōgun of the Muromachi Bakufu, the era name was changed because of various battles. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Kyōroku 5, on the 29th day of the 7th month. The Tenbun era begins
1532 (Tenbun 1, 24th day of the 8th month): Yamashina Hongan-ji set on fire. Hokke Riot in Kyōto.
1536 (Tenbun 5, 26th day of the 2nd month): Go-Nara is formally installed as emperor.
1541 (Tenbun 10, 14th day of the 6th month): Takeda Harunobu (later Takeda Shingen) banishes his father, Takeda Nobutora.
1542 (Tenbun 11, 25th day of the 8th month): Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was daimyō of Suruga Province, conquered Tōtōmi Province; and from there, he entered Mikawa Province where he battled the daimyō of Owari Province, Oda Nobuhide. The Imagawa forces were defeated by the Oda army.
1543 (Tenbun 12, 25th day of the 8th month): Portuguese ship drifts ashore at Tanegashima, and the gun is first introduced into Japan.
1543 (Tenbun 13, 7th month): There was flooding in Heian-kyō and nearby areas.
1546 (Tenbun 15, 20th day of the 12th month): Ashikaga Yoshifushi becomes 13th Shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate.
1547 (Tenbun 16): Joseon-Japanese "Treaty of Tenbun", trading limited to Joseon port of Pusan and Sō clan commerce limited to 20 ships annually.
1548 (Tenbun 17, 30th day of the 12th month): Nagao Kagetora (later Uesugi Kenshin) replaces his older brother Nagao Harukage as heir to Echigo Province, with triumphant entry in Kasugayama Castle.
1549 (Tenbun 18, 24th day of the 2nd month): Princess Nō marries Oda Nobunaga.
1549 (Tenbun 18, 3rd day of the 7th month): Francis Xavier (San Francisco Javier or Xavier) later Catholic saint apostle of Japan Christianity arrives at Kagoshima.
1549 (Tenbun 18, 27th day of the 11th month): Matsudaira clan of Mikawa Province fall under Imagawa Yoshimoto's rule. Matsudaira Takechiyo (later Tokugawa Ieyasu) departs for Imagawa as a hostage.
1554 (Tenbun 23, 2nd month): Shogun Yoshihusi was changed to Yoshiteru. Tenbun era ended.

 

Daishō 大小 of three swords 三本の剣 Koshirae set:
Koshirae set theme: “Tiger and Dragon”

Tsuka (each):
Wood: Honoki (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress)
Fuchi and Kashira: Gold “Dragon”
Menuki couple: Gold “Tiger”
Same: Ray Skin
Ito: Natural Silk Tetsu 鉄 (Iron Green) color

Tsuba 鍔 set:
Tsuba suite for Katana 刀 Wakizashi 脇差 Tantō 短刀 attributed to the famous master Yanagawa Naomasa 柳川 直政
“Tiger in bamboo forest”
Red copper alloy with Shakudo Fukurin (a fine and rare work).
Carved Tiger in bamboo motif in Katakiribori and Keibori style.
Yanagawa Naomasa goldsmith and metal craftsman (Kinzaikushi Soshite kinzoku shokunin 金細工師 そして 金属 職人)
Edo period 江戸時代
Tsuba set diameter measures:
Tsuba from Katana: 7,9 cm.
Tsuba from Wakizashi: 6,7 cm.
Tsuba from Tanto: 5,6 cm.

Habaki 鎺:
Katana: High grade work fine pure Gold covered
Wakizashi: Also High grade work all the piece of solid Silver
Tanto: Foiled Gold covered

Saya (each):
Wood: Honoki (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress)
Kurikata Shitodome couple: Silver Golden plate
Urushi multilayer black lacquered.
Sageo: White Ivory Silk

Katana saya has a Kōgai (笄):
The kōgai is a spike for hair arranging carried sometimes as part of Katana-Koshirae in another
pocket in this with a gold "Dragon" traditional high relief carving

Tanto Saya has a Kogatana with Kozuka:
Kogatana 小型な: Tamahagane 玉鋼 forged steel. Signed blade
Kozuka 小柄: “Tiger and Dragon” traditional high relief carving fine work

 

Koshirae set condition:
Very good general condition. It looks like as antique original Koshirae restored as usual (for sure it is renovated from an indefinite time Ito and Sageo at least as usual also), very scarce signs of use. General good condition, in my opinion, very appropriate in a very well-preserved Koshirae set.

 

 

 

 

Ref.: Daisho three swords 128

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Yanagawa Naomasa att. Tsuba Daisho set:

 

 

Kozuka signed with Kozuka (Tiger and Dragon) and Kogai / Fuchi Close-Up:

 

 

Blades detailed pictures, the polishing is not recent but it is well preserved, in my opinion it does not need another, to normal view the blades look in good condition what could see in the general pictures... Logically, in the close-up detailed photos you can see what is not visible to the eye... ask me any question if you want please.

 

Katana blade Hamon (tempering line) and Hada (surface grain) detailed Close-UP macro pictures. Both denoted a very fine master work:

 

 

Wakizashi blade with Soe Hi (double bohi). Hamon (tempering line) and Hada (surface grain) detailed Close-UP macro pictures:

 

 

Tanto blade Hamon (tempering line) and Hada (surface grain) detailed Close-UP macro pictures:

 

 

Daisho three NBTHK certified Mihara School Muromachi era (室町時代) blades:

 

 

 

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