Higo Koshirae

Mounting for a Long Sword (Katana)

Edo Period (1615–1868)

Length: 92.5 cm

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsogu

The Edo period witnessed an evolution in the arts of sword mounting, with artisans continually pushing the boundaries of technique and style. This era’s samurai adhered to a formal aesthetic for official events, carrying their swords in refined, black-lacquered scabbards. However, in less formal contexts, a broader, more colorful range of saya designs emerged, each contributing to a unique cultural tapestry of samurai life.

In Higo Province, a distinctive aesthetic arose with origins traced back to the famed “tea taste” of the late Momoyama period. This style was significantly shaped by Hosokawa Tadaoki, a warlord and devotee of the tea ceremony, who spent his last 25 years of his life in Yatsushiro Castle, in Higo. His refined taste deeply influenced the craftsmanship of sword fittings in that area, grounding them in principles of simplicity, subtlety, and restraint.

This Higo Koshirae embodies key characteristics unique to its regional style: a shortened length and a hilt, or tsuka, measuring about 20 cm, which tapers slightly toward the pommel. These features align with a sword-drawing school developed by Tadaoki and later embraced by Kumamoto’s samurai, emphasising agile, one-handed cuts from the draw. The hilt is encased in black ray skin (same) and wrapped in leather, while the saya showcases a freer interpretation of lacquer—another hallmark of Higo craftsmanship.

The tsuba and fuchi-kashira can be attributed to Hirata Hikozo, one of Higo’s celebrated metal artisans. In Higo Kinko Roku, Hikozo remarked that "he works in a classic style and does not exhibit any mediocre taste.” Here, the tsuba’s understated design, with its flat surface and minimalistic lines, evokes a serene awareness—quiet yet potent, embodying Hikozo’s artistry.

The koshirae comes with a Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsogu certificate (fitting especially worth of preservation) issued by Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai.