説明

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Sukemitsu with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Based on the signature and the authentication paper issued by NBTHK, this blade was forged by Suifu Jyu Yokoyama Sukemitsu in the third year of Ansei(1856). Suifu Jyu means living in Mito domain(today’s Ibaraki prefecture). Yokoyama Sukemichi(横山祐光) was born in 1820 in Edo as the third son of Taguchi Gon-Emon. He enrolled in the school of Osafune Yokoyama to become a swordsmith in Edo city. In 1849, when he was late 20’s, he started to serve Mito clan after he was recommended by Katsumura Tokkatsu, a famous swordsmith in Mito domain. Sukemitsu kept forging swords for this clan and died at the age of 54. (the fourth year of Meiji; 1874.) The Japanese swords made after the mid-Edo period towards the end of the Edo period are called Shin-Shin-To in Japanese. Shin-Shin-To were likely to be made more practical and robust. The Shin-Shin-To movement initially took place when Suishinshi Masahide began to bring back the old-school Japanese swords forged around the mid-to-late Kamakura period. Their swords rapidly gained popularity as the Edo regime had fallen into an unstable political state. As opposed to most swords of the previous era that were essentially more like luxury properties, the Shin-Shin-To spoke louder to the Samurais’ minds mourning the sad state of Edo. This blade has approx 74.8 cm long and must have been practical to use at the end of the Edo period. You can appreciate Sukemitsu’s craftmanship very well by looking at the beautiful Hamon and Jigane. If you are interested in an antique Japanese sword related to the Bakumatsu era, when Samurai’s life changed forever, it is a nice piece of history. It is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate issued by NBTHK. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, especially worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword). It accompanies by gorgeous sword mountings. 【 Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 74.8 cm(29.4 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 2.1 cm( 0.82 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process Jimon(Jihada) : visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process Nakago : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged. Koshirae: Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya(Sabbard), Tsuka( Handle), Tsuba(Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt. A kind of plant’s leaves is engraved for this Fucji Kashira. Several plant patterns were used as motifs for sword mountings. For example, ivy is one of the popular designs. As ivy has a strong vitality and grows up without interruption, people regarded this motif as a symbol of prosperity and longevity. In this way, each design was sometimes used with specific meanings or whishes. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. It might be chrysanthemums that are designed for this Menuki. The gold colored metal is plated on some petals and leaves. Chrysanthemum is one of the symbolic flowers of autumn, and people appreciate it very much since ancient times. As its petals form radially, the chrysanthemum has been likened to the sun. That is why this flower pattern is treated as the symbol of perpetual youth and longevity or good health. Tsuba and Habaki : Tsuba is the handguard for the Japanese Sword and Habaki is the equipment to make the blade not touch its scabbard inside. It prevents the blade from