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Overview·Historical importance·Designations·Blade Forms·Signatures·Lineage·School
OverviewHistorical importanceDesignationsBlade FormsSignaturesLineageSchool
  1. Schools
  2. Osafune
  3. Sōden-Bizen
  4. Arimitsu

Osafune Arimitsu

在光

Jūyō
Vol. 48, No. 98 · Tachi

Osafune Arimitsu

在光

1 ranked works

Notable smith
ProvinceBizenErac. 1361–1375PeriodNanbokuchōSchoolOsafuneTraditionBizen-denGeneration1stToko Taikan600(top 21%)TypeSwordsmithCodeARI299
1Jūyō Tōken

Overview

Arimitsu (在光) was a swordsmith of the tradition working at . Reference works enumerate six smiths bearing this name. Among the representative masters are a Zaiko who held the honorary title Izumo no Kami, active chiefly around the Eisho era (1504--1521), and another known as Kurozaemon no Jo, active around the Tenbun era (1532--1555). Izumo no Kami Zaiko stands as a figure of particular note: just as Seki produced Izumi no Kami Kanesada, so too in the period produced smiths granted court titles, yet among works by smiths whose names include the character mitsu (光), examples bearing such a conferred title are exceedingly few. The Kurozaemon line is documented through commissions that record both the smith's common title and the names of patrons, offering valuable evidence of the workshop's clientele during the final decades of production.

The workmanship of the Arimitsu line displays the characteristic of at its most accomplished. The forging is tightly packed mixed with , with very fine , delicate , and vivid standing out distinctly. The tempering centers on with a widened profile (), intermixed with , , , and angular forms, in places becoming a compound () . Within this tempered edge, and are active, with adhering to a tightened and fine and partial running through. Certain works display and small , imparting further variation. The Kurozaemon generation also produced blades in mixed with , showing the broader stylistic range available within the lineage. Blade forms are typically compact, with strong and short tangs that do not taper -- features constituting the classic shape.

The consistently praises works of this lineage for their careful execution and bright, clear impression in both and . Blades retain ample and are frequently noted as preserved in condition. The forging is described as well-kneaded, and the is characteristically -- clear and bright. Since extant works by these smiths are comparatively few, each authenticated example is regarded as fully demonstrating the high level of technique within the Arimitsu line and is especially precious as reference material, with dated inscriptions providing important documentary value for the study of late -period production.

Historical importance

Where Arimitsu stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.

随一
Foremost
屈指
Leading
有数
Major
著名
Notable

Select a lens to see how it's measured.

Designations

Kokuhō—
Jūyō Bunkazai—
Jūyō Bijutsuhin—
Gyobutsu—
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken1

Elite Standing

0.00 across 1 designated works

Top 100% among smiths

Blade Forms

Distribution across 1 ranked works

Signatures

Signature types across 1 ranked works

Currently Available

Lineage

Arimitsu
Students (3)
  1. 1.Arimitsu在光4designated
  2. 2.Arimitsu在光
  3. 3.Arimitsu在光1designated

Osafune School

Other artisans of the Osafune school

  1. 1.Mitsutada光忠60designated
  2. 2.Nagamitsu長光3 for sale244designated
  3. 3.Kagemitsu景光3 for sale144designated
  4. 4.Kanemitsu兼光3 for sale233designated
  5. 5.Sanenaga眞長1 for sale64designated
  6. 6.Chikakage近景4 for sale86designated
  7. 7.Tomomitsu倫光1 for sale61designated
  8. 8.Kagemasa景政3 for sale22designated
  9. 9.Masamitsu政光2 for sale84designated
  10. 10.Motomitsu基光3 for sale38designated
  11. 11.Kagehide景秀23designated
  12. 12.Yoshimitsu義光35designated

Arimitsu

Arimitsu(在光) was a Japanese swordsmith of the Osafune school in Bizen province, active during the Bunmei (1469-1487) period.

The work follows the Bizen-den tradition.

Designated works by Arimitsu include 1 Jūyō.