Antiques, Decorative and Fine Arts Auction

Antiques, Decorative and Fine Arts Auction

Lot 146: Japanese Katana by Norikatsu, Mito School, NBTHK Certified, Sakuradamon Incident Provenance, Edo Period

2026-04-25T15:00:00Z

Start price: CAD $500

Estimated price: C$ 500 - C$ 50,000

Lot 146:

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Japanese Katana by Norikatsu, Mito School, NBTHK Certified, Sakuradamon Incident Provenance, Edo Period

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Start price: CAD $500

Estimated price: C$ 500 - C$ 50,000

Description

A powerful and long sword from the Mito clan, forged by Norikatsu, a witness to the tumultuous period marking the end of the samurai era. Norikatsu is connected to the Sakuradamon Incident, namely the assassination of Chief Minister Ii Naosuke on March 24, 1860, carried out by samurai from the Mito domain in Tokyo (Edo), an event that triggered hostilities.

The sword used in this attack was forged by Norikatsu, one of the most renowned swordsmiths of the formidable Mito clan. This lot includes a shirasaya and an NBTHK Kicho Token paper dated 1965 with attribution to Norikatsu. 
Also included in the lot are two prints depicting the Sakuradamon attack, including the final blow delivered with the Norikatsu sword. Arimura Jizaemon, who beheaded Ii, is depicted here. This image forms part of a series entitled Kinseijiyuden (“Biographies of Loyal and Courageous Men”) by Ichiesai Yoshitsuya.

A print illustrating this major episode in samurai history shows the Mito clan samurai attack, depicting a diversion maneuver and close combat with a guard of the minister wearing a jingasa. 


Dimensions
Nagasa: 75.3 cm. Sori: 1.5 cm.
Moto-haba: 3.2 cm. Saki-haba: 2.1 cm.
Moto-gasane: 0.8 cm. Saki-gasane: 0.5 cm.