Katana signed KANEYOSHI
Koto Early Muromachi period (Ouei era about 600 years ago) Mino
Length of cutting edge72.5cm Curvature2.9cm Width of base30.1mm Width of Yokote19.8mm Thickness of base6.6mm
NBTHK(HOZON)certificate
Blade construction (kengyo) : Shinogi-zuruki, Iori-mune. There is rather deep center pointed curve and also shows waist curve standing firmly on base. The shinogi-suji ridge is high and abundant volume Hiraniku leading to a small-medium kissaki. The entire shape is classically graceful and heavy on hands.
Forging pattern (kitae hada) : Kitae hada is fine and subdued Mokume hada which is moistened and there works with sparkling milkey way hard metal granules along temper so called Nie-Utsuri reflection.
Tempering pattern (hamon) : Hamon is narrow-straight Suguha with some joint indication of which temper edge is solidly tight with vivid and bright ko-nie granules.
Temper of tip (boshi) : Temper of Boshi is straight along Fukura curve with large circle turn back gently.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU original with slightly cut the heel off. One original Mekugi-ana peg hole. Slightly slanting left (Katte-Sagari) file marks. Round back on the back ridge. The signature in front is two character that reads KANE YOSHI.
The first smith KANEYOSHI(兼吉) in Mino province had came from Tegai, Yamato school to Mino province in 14th century.
He played the first chief of Zenjo-school among Seven Seki major schools. His works with the date of year ranges the earliest from 1389 to the Ouei era, early Muromachi period. His initial smith name was KANEYOSHI(包吉) while he was in Tegai town in Yamato province and his given name was Seijirou.
This gracefully decent Tachi style katana almost remains an original condition and shows a typical example during the Ouei era, peaceful period and strong Yamato school favour can be seen such as high shinogi-ji ridge/massive volume Hiraniku, vividly bright straight temper and finely delicate Mokume hada. The workmanship is hidden an awe-inspiring power and extremely beautifull. This is surely a famed work with a healthy ji-ha for the age.
As the frontier of Zenjo-school, his works have been highly regarded and descended to Kanemoto, Kanefusa, Ujifusa and Kanemichi who was a father of Iganokami Kinmichi, Tanbanokami Yoshimichi and Echunokami Masatoshi, all of them played major roles of sword history.
Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting. Gold foiled rock-wall Habaki collar.
