Antique Japanese Kozuka (knife handle fitting) from the Edo Period.

This is a finely crafted kozuka made of shakudo with a nanako (fish-roe) textured ground, decorated with vivid gold inlay and iro-e.

The design depicts a figure performing traditional Gagaku court music, featuring the three classical wind instruments:
Sho (mouth organ), Hichiriki (double reed), and Ryuteki (flute) — known collectively as the “Sankan” (Three Instruments).

The piece is signed:
Goto Mitsuyasu (後藤光泰) with kao

Goto Mitsuyasu was the son of Goto Mitsumasa (12th head of the main Goto family) and the brother of Goto Mitsutaka (13th head), placing him within the prestigious Goto mainline lineage, one of the most important schools in Japanese sword fittings history.

The workmanship reflects this heritage, with refined carving, balanced composition, and elegant execution worthy of the Goto tradition.

The vivid gold decoration and detailed carving create a luxurious and culturally rich impression, evoking the refined atmosphere of classical Japanese court culture.

The kozuka comes with a wooden storage box (kiribako).

There is some loss to the gold inlay and iro-e due to age; however, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere remain highly appealing. Please refer to the photos for details.

Size

• Length: approx. 9.61 cm
• Width: approx. 1.45 cm