-, 41st Session — Designated November 10, 1995
, : Yoshioka (吉岡一文字)
Measurements 74.8 cm, 2.8 cm, 3.1 cm, 1.85 cm, 3.2 cm, 22.3 cm, 0.1 cm
Description Keijō: , ; and are standard; the is strongly pronounced; . : mixed with ; somewhat ; appears; stands out. : mixed with and ; incorporates suggestive of ; adheres well; enters and runs through. : Straight, forming . : None. : Slightly shortened (); tip ; file marks ; two ; on the , at the center, is the character “一”.
Artisan Yoshioka (吉岡一文字)
Era Late period
Explanation By the late period, the Yoshioka line came to flourish, replacing the earlier Fukuoka line. Within this group there were many smiths who shared the character (助) as a common element in their names, such as Sukemitsu, Sukeyoshi, Sukeyoshi (助義), and Suketsugu. In their inscriptions, one often finds examples in which the character “一”—a practice rare among the Fukuoka —is combined with an individual name.
In workmanship, they are close to the Fukuoka : there are not infrequently pieces with large-patterned, flamboyant . However, many works are of smaller formation, in which stands out within ; or they show a -based flavor with and intermixed; or a straight temper with entering; and at times there are even examples that run into a reverse tendency.
This is, in overall impression, a calm -ba of small pattern. Yet it displays variety through the mingling of multiple forms—, , , and others—and within the temper there is abundant activity such as and . The character “一” is also sharply cut, with emphasis in the terminating strokes, and it clearly expresses the characteristic manner of the Yoshioka inscription. Overall, the state of preservation is good.
