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About the maker

Ayanokoji Sueyuki末行

Osafune Sadamitsu was a Sue-Bizen smith active during the late Muromachi period, known primarily through joint works (*gassaku*) produced with his contemporary Katsumitsu of the Osafune lineage. Sword reference works record three generations of the name extending through the Kakitsu era, yet Sadamitsu's existence around the Meio period could not previously be confirmed; the surviving dated *naginata* of Meio 8 (1499), produced in collaboration with Katsumitsu, serves to fill that documentary gap and stands as an important reference for research into Sue-Bizen production networks. The workmanship of the Katsumitsu-Sadamitsu collaboration displays the characteristic Sue-Bizen style of complex, compound *gunome* formations. The *kitae* shows *itame-hada* with a flowing tendency (*nagare-gokoro*), with *mokume* mixed in places; fine *ji-nie* adheres thickly, with delicate *chikei*, and *midare-utsuri* stands out. The *hamon* is based on open-at-the-base (*koshi no hiraita*) gunome, mixed with *togari-ba* and *ko-gunome*-like elements. The tempering band is broad with conspicuous undulations, while *ashi* and *yo* enter frequently; *ko-nie* adheres, and small *tobiyaki*, *sunagashi*, and *kinsuji* appear. The *nioiguchi* is bright and clear. Katsumitsu's particular contribution is noted as achieving a more florid and brilliant workmanship than other Sue-Bizen smiths by mixing abundant *choji* within the irregular pattern. The designation records emphasize the powerful and splendid carvings that accompany these works -- including *bonji* in superimposed carving (*kasanebori*) with *rendai*, and shrine dedication inscriptions -- as distinctive features of Sue-Bizen production. The supplementary inscriptions naming the Miyake clan, a lineage that continued into the Ukita family with its base in Kojima in Bizen, further elevate these works as important sources for understanding the relationship between Sue-Bizen smiths and the warrior clans who patronized them.

Samurai Museum

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