-, 31st Session — Designated October 18, 1984
, : Sūshū no jū Shigekane (隅州之住重鑑作)
Measurements 68.2 cm, 2.3 cm, 2.75 cm, 1.8 cm, 3.1 cm, 15.8 cm, extremely slight
Description Keijō: , ; with ; . : closely forged; adheres well. : A large with a noticeably “opened” () lower portion; mixed with , , and compound elements; with and ; adheres well and the is tight. : ; turning back with a pointed tendency. : None. : ; tip ; shallow ; one ; on the , below the on the , there is a long signature cut with fine chisel-work; on the , near the , the date is inscribed in the manner.
Artisan Shigekane (重鑑)
Era period; dated Tenbun 14 (1545), 11th month, an auspicious day
Explanation Shigekane was a swordsmith of Ōsumi Province active around the Tenbun era of the period. He signed works as “Sūshū jū Shigekane ,” and also as “Sūshū Takakuma jū Shigekane,” and it is said that he likewise forged swords in Satsuma.
This bears a date of Tenbun 14. In its it shows the period character through its . The forging is a compact with well-adhering . The is a “waist-opened” () mixed with pointed elements, a manner that connects with late works such as ; the internal activities within the tempered edge are also rich. It may be regarded as an especially outstanding example among Shigekane’s works.
