O102148(S827)
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Katana unsigned attributed to Yamato SHIZU with) Black Roiro lacquered scabbard Tensho-style Koshirae

Koto Nanbokucho period (Jouwa era/1345-) Yamato
Length of cutting edge 71.2cm Curvature 1.7cm Width of base 30.0mm Width of Yokote 22.0mm Thickness of base 6.0mm

NBTHK(The 46th JUYO TOKEN) certificate

with) Black Roiro lacquered scabbard Tensho-style Koshirae

 

Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Mitsu-mune. Substantially shortened Ō-suriage. Mihaba on base is wide, Shinogi-ji is a bit on wider side in proportion to Hira-ji and Shinogi ridge is a bit on higher side. Thickness on base is thin to the length holding less volume of Hiraji. There is a well proportioned degree of tapering from base to an elongated Ō-Kissaki. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is conspicuous Itame-hada with an indication of streaming Masame ware. A bit on coarse side Nie granules attaches on surface that emits sparkling reflection of Ji-Nie. Darkish long lines in different state of carbonate so called "CHIKEI" wells out outstandingly from the depth of fine steel.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is a bit on coarse side fine Nie hard metal granules base, based on Notare sedate wave outline mixing of small or large Gunome with some indication of tapered Togari-ha appears here and there. The abundant quenching activities such as short lines of Sunagashi or bright thick lines of Kinsuji intensively runs long along quenching sedate line and isolated Yubashiri activity appears onto the Hiraji. The interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area deeply The entire temper is full of rich Nie hard metal granule activities which is energetic, vividly bright and clear.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms irregular Midarekomi where tip works with brushing Hakikake activity like a blaze to end Yakizume almost no return.
Tang(Nakago): The tang is substantially shortened Ō-suriage to be unsigned with horizontal Kiri heel shape. Four peg holes in which 2 are filled by brass with horizontal Kiri filemarks.

This is the superb Nanbokucho Katana which is attributed to a work of Yamato Shizu 大和志津 holding powerful shape.
The founder of Yamato Shizu school in end Kamakura period is the accomplished artisan KANEUJI 包氏 who used to be active under Tegai school in Yamato province. He had learned the latest frontier Soushu technique from the famed smith MASAMUNE 正宗 in Soushu in order to meet with the demands of the times.
He successfully acquired the rising Soushu skills and had become nominated as one of the ten genius smiths of MASAMUNE and then he moved to Shizu-town, Tagi-gun, Mino province and then he changed his smith name from KANEUJI 包氏 to KANEUJI 兼氏 using a different letter of Kanji but in the same pronunciation with the pseudonym of Shizu Zaburo 志津三郎.
Those works made by KANEUJI 包氏 who stayed in Yamato province in his earlier days in a narrow sense or in wide sense those works in his school has been called Yamato Shizu 大和志津 also.
The workmanship of Yamato Shizu 大和志津 works, to sum up, inherited the mainstream of Yamato technique but adopted the most updated skills from Soushu technique which was originated to Masamune 正宗.
This katana is a superb example to show the classic traditional features from Yamato school such as a bit on higher side in Shinogi-ridge, Masame streaming indication of forging and intensive Sunagashi and Kinsuji as well as Hakikake brushing-out temper of Boshi. Quenching method of a bit coarse side Nie granules, outstanding Itame forging marks and Sedate Notare wave Hamon - those are strongly influenced from Soshu method.
In view of this blade, Hamon is more flamboyant than usual where large and small semicircles of Gunome is perceived also there are abundant activities of condensed Nie in the interior of temper that consists of long Kinsuji or Sunagashi which creates vividly bright brilliancy. Jigane forms conspicuous indication of Itame and streaming Masame to prove the attribution of this katana as Yamato SHIZU from Nanbokucho period. Awarded with the designation of 46th JUYO TOKEN.

with) Black Roiro lacquered scabbard Tensho-syle Koshirae (click HERE for entire Koshirae and HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : Amaryu dragon design, Shakudo ground Stone surface, Takabori signed Takana uji MORIMASA hori 田中氏盛征彫
  • Menuki : Dragon design, Gold ground, Yobori carving
  • Tsuba : Dragon on cloud design, Shakudo ground, Nanako-ji surface, Takabori carving, Iroe unsigned
  • Tsuka : White layskin, Traditional purple silk cord Jabara-style lozenge wrap
Gold foiled double layer Habaki collar, Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
Superb polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data : 46th JUYO TOKEN ZUROKU