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Hamon : Nie-deki suguha. The nioi-guchi is thick and luminous. Ha-hataraki is abundant. This consists of tightly packed and flowing sungashi with vivid kinsugi mixed in.
Kitae : Masame keeping in the style of a ken blade. The hada pattern is tight and refined. Strong ji-nie, made of ko-nie as well as chikei are present.
About this sword : A fine and important ken by Hizen Yoshisada with a dragon motif koshirae and Edo period lacquered storage box. Yoshisada was active around Keicho (1596-1615). He is a highly regarded Hizen smith ranked at 5.5 million yen in the Tokotaikan and Jo Saku by Fujishiro. His civilian name was Hashimoto Gonzaemon and later his first name was changed to Hyobuzaemon. He was in the same family as Shodai Hizen Tadayoshi. Most books record that they were half-brothers. Hizen smiths were highly supported by the Nabeshima lord, had the pressure and experience of making blades for immediate hard-use (Korean campaigns, Sekigahara) worked in groups exchanging knowledge / competitive spirit and had high-quality raw materials. These factors combine to blossom the character of Hizen swords.
Hizen-to are often marvelous and that is the case with this example. It is a flawless work and in perfect polish. The horimono of this blade is a powerful representation of the Hoju or "Sacred Jewel" and a ken. Details such as the way the central ridge of the ken-hori is carved perfectly on the central ridge of the blade are quite impressive. The blade is healthy with fumbari clear at the base of the habaki-moto.
This blade, koshirae and its box were once the property of Mr. Eiguchi Soshin. He acquired it from a shrine in Hizen, Saga. This blade is illustrated in his well-known book "Hizen-to Hikkei" (Hizen-to Handbook). This book was translated into English by Gordon Robson in 1997. It is considered the "go to" book for Hizen Shinto information.
This blade was also owned by Mr Nick Nakamura. He is the president of the Kokusai Tosogu Kai. This Yoshisada was published in the 8th vol of the Kokusai Tosogu kai and also as the featured fold-out item in No. 708 of Token to Rekishi, The monthly NTHK(NPO) publication.
The koshirae of this blade is made from wood and is a three-dimensional carving of a dragon. The detail and skill shown in the execution of this work is remarkable to say the least. The character of the dragons face and the luster of the urushi give the work an undeniable aura of delight. This koshirae, shira-saya and ken are stored in a Edo period urushi box which also accompanies this sword. Both silk himo were made by Ms. Midori Suzuki to match with the fukuro design. Mrs Suzuki is regarded as top-class expert of traditional Japanese textile craft. Her work is featured in museums around the world. The oshigata shown below is by Manabu Yokoyama. He is a Hizen-to expert and wrote the book "Hizento Bibouroku". He is also considered one of the leading oshigata artists in the world today. The oshigata is included with this package as is No. 708 of Token to Rekishi.
HOLD
