-, 51st Session — Designated October 13, 2005
, : school (青江)
Measurements 71.9 cm, 1.6 cm, 2.75 cm, 3.1 cm, 16.3 cm, 0.8 cm (goku wazu ka / extremely slight)
Description Keijō: , ; standard with a somewhat evident difference between base and tip widths; high ; comparatively deep with remaining; . : mixed with ; the grain stands () and takes on a crepe-like () texture; fine ; fine enter; faint appears, and near the edge double and triple linear form what is termed . : Based on with a shallow -tendency; mixed with small , small , and small -like elements; abundant and ; ; fine and run well; the is bright and clear. : Straight, turning back in . : None. : Greatly shortened (); -tendency ; shallow ; one ; unsigned.
Artisan school (青江)
Era Late period (at the very end)
Explanation The early-eleventh-century travel miscellany Sarugakki (“Record of New Sarugaku”) lists “the swords of ” among the famed products of the various provinces. Two centuries later, smiths of the lineage—who inherited that high reputation—came to the fore and flourished chiefly in the lower basin of the Takahashi River. Within this group, works up to about the mid- period are classified as , while those thereafter through the period are broadly termed , and the school is thus divided into these major phases.
In terms of workmanship, often shows with a somewhat (subdued) , forming tempered edges that incorporate small . By the late period the becomes more restrained, and in the period the tightens and presents an increasingly bright and clear appearance.
This is forged in mixed with , with standing grain that produces a crepe-like () texture; fine adheres, and fine enter. The temper is based on with a shallow -tendency, mixing small , small , and small -like elements, with plentiful and , , and fine and , while the is bright and clear—features that well display the highlights of the school.
Moreover, the shows , and near the edge double and triple linear appear, producing what is called ; here too the school’s distinctive character is evident. Although the blade is greatly shortened, it retains comparatively deep and preserves in its overall (shape and bearing). Together with the foregoing characteristics of and , the time of manufacture is appraised as the very end of the period.
Within the -based tempered edge, abundant internal activities are readily observed, resulting in a particularly varied work. In addition, the blade has ample (good remaining “flesh”), and both and are (sound and well-preserved). In both preservation and workmanship, this is an especially superior example among attributions.
