Chōunsai Shigemitsu Katana (1945) NBTHK Hozon Certified Japanese Sword
WW2 1945
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Chōunsai Shigemitsu Katana
NBTHK Hozon – January 1945
Among the final generation of traditionally forged Japanese swords produced during the Second World War are a small number of blades that successfully bridge the gap between military history and the centuries-old traditions of Japanese swordsmithing. This katana by Chōunsai Shigemitsu (長運斎重光) is one such example.
The blade bears a clear and fully preserved signature on the tang:
三州足助住長運斎重光作之
Sanshū Asuke-jū Chōunsai Shigemitsu saku kore
Translated as:
“Made by Chōunsai Shigemitsu, resident of Asuke in Mikawa Province.”
The reverse side of the tang is dated:
昭和二十年一月吉日
A fortunate day in January, Shōwa 20 (1945).
This places the sword among the very last traditionally forged Japanese blades made before the end of the Pacific War.
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A Swordsmith of Asuke, Mikawa Province
Shigemitsu worked in Asuke, located in modern-day Aichi Prefecture and historically part of Mikawa Province. The region has a long connection to Japanese swordmaking and metalworking traditions. During the Shōwa period, several smiths continued the craft despite wartime shortages and increasing pressure to produce military weapons.
Unlike mass-produced military swords, traditionally forged blades such as this were created using methods that descended from the classical schools of Japanese swordsmithing. The presence of a full signature and date, combined with later certification by the NBTHK, confirms the blade’s status as a genuine Japanese sword made by an identified smith.
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NBTHK Hozon Certification
The sword was submitted to the NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai) and successfully passed examination, receiving Hozon Tōken certification.
The certificate states:
“After examination by this association, the sword has been judged worthy of preservation and is hereby certified as a Hozon Tōken.”
The certificate was issued on 19 March 2008 (Heisei 20).
NBTHK Hozon papers are internationally recognized as confirmation of authenticity and historical significance. The organization carefully examines the signature, workmanship, construction, and condition before issuing certification.
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Registration and Specifications
The accompanying Japanese registration document records the blade as:
* Type: Katana
* Blade Length (Nagasa): 62.6 cm
* Curvature (Sori): 1.4 cm
* Mekugi-ana: 1
* Registration Prefecture: Aichi
* Registration Date: 12 July 1999
The dimensions create a well-balanced katana with elegant proportions and practical handling characteristics.
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Historical Importance
Swords dated to early 1945 occupy a unique place in Japanese sword history. Japan was entering the final months of the war, and many traditional workshops faced severe shortages of materials and resources. Despite these challenges, a number of dedicated smiths continued to produce genuine handmade swords according to traditional methods.
This katana represents that final chapter of classical Japanese swordmaking before the post-war prohibition on sword production. As a result, it stands not only as a weapon, but as a historical artifact documenting the survival of Japanese craftsmanship during one of the most difficult periods in the nation’s history.
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Kyodai Originals Assessment
This is a fully signed and dated katana by Chōunsai Shigemitsu, forged in January 1945, accompanied by its Japanese registration papers and official NBTHK Hozon certification. The combination of a clear signature, wartime date, and recognized authentication makes this an attractive example for collectors of both Japanese swords and Second World War history.
More than eighty years after it was forged in Asuke, this sword remains a tangible link to the final generation of traditional Japanese swordsmiths and the enduring legacy of the Japanese blade.
Katana by Chōunsai Shigemitsu
Asuke, Mikawa Province (Aichi Prefecture)
Dated January 1945
NBTHK Hozon Tōken
Nagasa: 62.6 cm
A historically significant wartime gendaitō preserving the traditions of Japanese swordmaking.
