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About the maker

Shinto Suketaka助隆

Suketaka's home province was Harima (Banshu). He studied under Kuroda Takazane, and in Kansei 10 (1798) received the honorary title Nagato no Kami. He died in Bunka 2 (1805) at the age of fifty-three. Throughout his career, Suketaka held Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehiro in deep private admiration, and this reverence defined his life's work. Among *shinshinto* period smiths who studied Sukehiro's *toranba*-style temper -- including Suishinshi Masahide and Tegarayama Masashige -- Suketaka is regarded as particularly skillful. His blades consistently present a large-scaled *taihai* with somewhat wide *mihaba*, shallow *sori*, and an elongated *chu-kissaki*. The *jihada* is a *ko-itame-hada* so tightly forged it approaches *muji*, with *ji-nie* adhering and the *jigane* bright and clear. The *hamon* begins with a long *yakidashi*, then forms a *toran-midare*-like composition in which large *gunome* and *gunome-choji* intermix, creating conspicuous height variations and a billowing, wave-like effect. Thick *ashi* enter; the *nioiguchi* is deep; and *nie* adheres well, with *ara-nie* appearing in places. The *nioiguchi* is bright and clear throughout. The *boshi* is characteristically *sugu* with *ko-maru*, showing *hakikake* toward the tip. The long *nakago* and application of *kesho-yasuri* likewise emulate Sukehiro's manner. The NBTHK notes that Suketaka's *toran-midare* is "truly so accomplished that it approaches the genuine article," though none among his contemporaries attains the degree of brightness seen in Sukehiro himself. His *jigane* is praised as carefully refined, evidencing high technical skill, and his works are consistently termed representative pieces. Matched *daisho* made as true pairs are noted as uncommon, adding to the documentary significance of such examples.

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