Description

Weight: Blade only 745g It has arrived, it has arrived—a celebrated sword by the master of Osaka Shinto, the second generation Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke, who was highly praised for his "Shinto Ichimonji" style reminiscent of ancient times. His father was the first generation Kawachi no Kami Fujiwara Kunisuke, a disciple of Horikawa Kunihiro in Kyoto. The current Masamune Prize winner and number one popular modern smith, Kawachi Kunihira-sensei, is a descendant of this Kunisuke lineage. Osaka was known as the "Kitchen of the World," housing the Kurayashiki (warehouse residences) where rice from daimyo across the country was collected, and the market price of rice was determined in Osaka. Consequently, it became the economic center of Japan, flourishing with a population exceeding that of Edo. The first generation Osaka Shinto smiths gathered from all over the country, exerting incredible effort and hardship to compete and refine their skills, laying the foundation for the development of Osaka Shinto. Building upon this foundation, the second generation smiths (Sukehiro, Shinkai, Kunisuke, Tadatsuna, Terukane, etc.) were all exceptional masters who elevated the reputation of Osaka Shinto to its peak nationwide. Samurai from various domains stationed at the Osaka Kurayashiki would place orders for nihonto on behalf of their lords and fellow retainers, bringing the swords back to their home provinces the following year. Because Osaka Shinto smiths were required to possess high-level techniques to create swords favored by samurai from any region, they engaged in constant study and produced innovative, magnificent masterpieces. The fact that works by Osaka Shinto makers are still carefully preserved throughout the country today is a testament to the excellence of Osaka Shinto. This sword is by the second generation Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke, who was honorifically called "Naka-Kawachi" (Middle Kawachi) as he stood between the first and third generations. He is a magnificently famous master smith of the Osaka Shinto period, alongside his contemporaries Sukehiro and Shinkai. He is a smith from the lineage that served as a teacher to Sukehiro. Furthermore, due to his gorgeous choji-ba hamon, he is referred to as "Shinto Ichimonji." This sword was made as a daito for a samurai around the Kanbun era of the Edo period (1661, 365 years ago). Originally a long sword of about 2 shaku 5 sun, it was shortened to its current length. The shape shows a wide moto-mihaba with a distinct difference from the saki-mihaba and a shallow sori, presenting a grand and powerful sugata. The jigane is a finely forged ko-itame hada, appearing bright and of excellent quality. The hamon is in nioi-deki with deep ko-nie; starting from the moto, it features the "kobushi-gata choji" (fist-shaped choji) devised by the second generation Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke, with varied gunome-midare and gunome-choji-ba burned brightly and masterfully. It is a masterpiece that greatly enhanced the reputation of the Shinto Ichimonji name. This sword has been carefully passed down through an old family for generations, but as they have aged, they have entrusted it to us with the request to "pass it on at a low price to someone who will cherish it." Therefore, through their kindness, we are offering this sword by the representative Osaka Shinto smith, the second generation Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke, at a special, ultra-cheap price of less than half its value. Please do enjoy it.