-, 66th Session — Designated December 15, 2020
, : Katayama (片山一文字)
Measurements 69.7 cm, 1.9 cm, 3.05 cm, 2.35 cm, 4.4 cm, 18.2 cm, 0.1 cm
Description Keijō: , ; wide with almost no difference between and width; shallow with additional curvature toward the tip; extended . : Tightly forged ; very fine adheres thickly; fine enters; appears. : ; fine “tufted” (fusa) elements run in close succession and intermingle; the rises and falls in height; profuse and ; -dominant with ; and are seen. : with a somewhat pointed tendency; . : None. : ; tip ; ; two ; unsigned.
Artisan Katayama school
Era period (inferred)
Explanation The Katayama group arose when Norifusa of the Fukuoka lineage later moved to Katayama; from that point the school flourished in that locality. Traditionally, the place-name “Katayama” has generally been understood to refer to a site in Province; however, in recent years a theory has been advanced that it may instead indicate Katayama in the vicinity of Fukuoka in Province, and this has invited further investigation.
The principal points of appreciation in this group are a strong, clear () ; a that tends to be somewhat smaller in pattern than that of the Fukuoka school; a tendency for the irregularity to take on a reverse slant; and the presence, within the , of fine, closely spaced .
This displays a tightly forged with very fine adhering thickly, fine , and a standing . The is a in which fine “tufted” (fusa) elements run closely and mingle, showing highs and lows in the tempering; and are vigorous, and the blade is -dominant with , accompanied by and . These features in both and well express the characteristic traits of the Katayama group, and the attribution is readily accepted.
Particularly noteworthy is the bold, powerful construction: abundant gives the sword a substantial, weighty feel in hand. Even within this school, the comings-and-goings of the irregular pattern and the internal activities of the stand out markedly, making this an excellent work.
