説明

Mei (Signature): 桑名住義専斎三品廣道作Kuwana-Jyu Gisen-sai Mishina Hiromichi saku慶応三年四月日 (以多度斎小鍛之)Keiō 3rd year, 4th month" (April 1867) (Assisted in forging by Tadōsai) Gisensai Mishina Hiromichi was a skilled late-Edo period swordsmith born in Kuwana, Ise Province (modern-day Mie Prefecture), an area historically rich in metallurgical tradition. His given name was Mishina Tōkurō (藤九郎), and he was the second son of Mishina Tōuemon Hiromichi. His elder brother was Mishina Hanbei Hirofusa. Together, they upheld the Mishina school lineage into the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate. Hiromichi trained under the renowned Koyama Munetsugu and Muneyoshi, mastering the Bizen tradition of sword forging. He worked alongside his brother in Kajichō, Kuwana, and was active from around the Kaei period (circa 1848) through to the late Keiō era (1868), continuing into the early Meiji period. Hiromichi’s blades are known for their bold and dignified shape, often with long and wide bodies, thick kasane, shallow sori, and extended kissaki—embodying the stately aesthetics of late Edo swords. His forging displays a refined ko-itame hada with thick ji-nie and intricate chikei, creating a visually striking jigane. The hamon often features flamboyant ō-chōji and gunome patterns in the style of Koyama Munetsugu, usually with an abundance of hataraki.Hiromichi's swords often exhibit excellent condition, particularly his nakago, which typically features well-defined yasurime, crisp mei, and fine patina, earning the reputation of “nakago senryō” (a tang worth a thousand ryō).This impressive katana by Kuwana-jū Gisen-sai Mishina Hiromichi is forged in a robust shinogi-zukuri form with an iori-mune and shallow sori. The blade features a wide motohaba, thick kasane, and an extended chū-kissaki, giving it a powerful and dignified presence. Beautifully engraved horimono adorn both sides of the blade: aGoma-bashi(ritual chopsticks used in Shinto ceremonies),Bonjiscript, aKuwagatacrest (resembling the front chest of a kabuto), and a stylizedSukenaccompanied by additional Bonji. These detailed carvings elevate the blade’s spiritual and aesthetic presence.