-, 43rd Session — Designated October 30, 1997
, : Sukemura (助村)
Measurements 69.8 cm, 2.6 cm, 2.65 cm, 1.8 cm, 2.9 cm, 19.2 cm
Description Keijō: , ; standard ; high ; . : with slight mixed in; appears; enters; stands out clearly. : A -based mixed with and ; enter; adheres well also within the ; and appear; on the below the a runs; here and there it is mingled with slight . : Straight, becoming , with a slight . : on both sides, carved through (). : ; sakigiri; ; two ; on the , on the near the tang tip, there is a finely chiseled two-character signature.
Artisan Sukemura
Era period ()
Explanation This is a signed () by Sukemura of . Among the smiths, extant signed works by Sukemura are few. His style displays distinct in the , while the is fundamentally a -based with small undulations; it shows features such as , and at times the tempering is “dropped” at the boundary of the , resulting in a subdued and tasteful manner.
Although this is shortened (), it nonetheless presents a dignified form with pronounced . The forging is , with and , and clear appears. The is mixed with and ; adheres well also within the temper, and and are seen. In addition, it reveals and ; thus, one can glimpse the characteristic manner of Sukemura, whose works are rarely encountered. It is a superior example among his extant works, and a valuable reference piece for the study of this smith.
