T122914(W3244)
+Shipping

Wakizashi signed SUKEYOSHI-saku

Koto on the latter half of Muromachi period (Daiei era/ca1521-) Mikawa
Length of cutting edge 40.7cm Curvature 1.0cm Width of base 35.1mm Thickness of base 6.8mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate


Blade construction: Hira-zukuri, Iori-mune, The blade length extends to 1 shaku 3 sun 4 bu (approximately 40.7 cm), featuring an upper pointed curvature and a pronounced upper Fukura belly. The blade is wide, thick, and has a robust, weighty feel in 419grams w/o Habaki. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is conspicuous Itame-hada and streaming ware appears on both area of quenching and back side of spine.
Carvings: On the front side, there is a Kuwagata (helmet crest) carving on base and a Suken (straight sword) with a Sanskrit inscription of Fudō Myō-ō. On the reverse side, a Bōhi (wide groove) is accompanied by a Soehi (secondary groove), both extending through the tang away.
Temper(Hamon): The blade features a Nie-rich hardened boundary lines. The tempering begins with a short Yakidashi of an initial hardening and continues with a high-standing large Gunome pattern, interwoven with constricted Ō-fusa-chōji (large clustered clove patterns). There are areas of Tobiyaki (scattered hardening), occasionally connecting to the Mune-yaki (spine hardening), creating a Hitatsura-like (full temper) appearance. The hamon is extremely lively, filled with a dense Nioi (misty martensite). The valleys of the undulating hamon are rich in Nie, with frequent Sunagashi or Nie-suji (wispy streaks of hardened steel) present.
Temper of tip(Boshi): The Hamon continues in a Gunome pattern then forming a small rounded tip (komaru) with a deep turn-back that connects to Muneyaki. The spine hardening pattern consists of small gunome and pointed elements, extending all the way down to the tang generating a Hitatsura-like effect.
Tang(Nakago): Ubu (unaltered), with two mekugi-ana (peg holes). The Yasurime is Ō-sujikai greatly slanting left filemarks with an uneven U-shape Ha-agari kuri-jiri shaped heel and also appears on the flat spine. Below the Mekugi-ana slightly closer to the spine, a three-character signature "SUKEYOSHI-Saku" 助良作 appears.

The swordsmiths of the Yakuouji School 薬王寺 were active in medieval Mikawa Province (modern eastern Aichi Prefecture), particularly in Yahagi, Hekikai District (now within Okazaki City). While the Yakuouji 薬王寺 name comes from a temple believed to have been located in Nishihongo-cho, its exact historical location remains uncertain.

The school is said to have been founded in the early Muromachi period (Ouei era, 1394-1428) by Kaneharu 兼春, a swordsmith from Mino Province who migrated to Yakuouji. During this era, Mikawa was politically unstable, caught between the influences of the powerful Oda and Imagawa clans. Until Tokugawa Ieyasu consolidated control, the region was characterized by shifting allegiances and conflicts among various feudal lords.

Due to Mikawa’s geographical position, the Yakuouji School exhibits stylistic influences from neighboring smithing traditions, including Seki (Mino), Senjuin (Mino), Sengo (Ise), and Shimada (Suruga), as well as the late Sōshu tradition. This suggests frequent interactions and migrations of smiths between these regions. Notably, the Yakuouji smith "SUKENAGA" 助長 is said to have relocated to Ōmi Province, later becoming the founder of the new-generation Ishidō School.

According to the Nihonto Meikan (Japanese Sword Name Directory), the name "SUKEYOSHI" 助良 appeared in Mino’s Nishigori region, linked to the Jumyo lineage. Two smiths bearing this name are documented from the Bunmei (1469-87) and Eisho (1504-21) eras. The presence of a "SUKEYOSHI" 助良 in the Yakuouji School during the same period suggests possible migration or cross-regional interactions among these swordsmiths.

The featured Hirazukuri wakizashi signed "SUKEYOSHI-saku" 助良作 exhibits a ship-bottom-shaped tang and a strikingly turbulent hamon, along with refined carvings. The craftsmanship closely resembles the styles of the MURAMASA 村正 from Ise Sengo School and the TSUNAHIRO 綱広 from late Soshu tradition. The blade is substantial, exceptionally healthy, and of outstanding quality to win Tokubetsu Hozon award.

Single-layered gold-foiled Habaki. Preserved in a Shirasaya (plain wooden scabbard) with an inscription by Dr. Sato Kanzan to say "Sanshu SUKEYOSHI Dai'ei era 1 shaku 3 sun 4 bu, Novelty, September, Rabit, in the 4th calender sign (1987)".
Recent polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
References:
Honma Kunzan & Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975.
Horie Toshimi & Kondo Kuniharu, Mikawa no ToukoYakuouji-ha wo Chushin ni (Special Exhibition Catalog: Swordsmiths of Mikawa Focusing on the Yakuouji School), Mikawa Bushi no Yakata Ieyasu-kan, Okazaki City, March 20, 1997.
Tokuno Kazuo, Mino Tou Taikan, Otsuka Kougeisha, 1975.