S72306(S1304)
+Shipping

Katana signed Tōtōmi-no-kuni Oguri MOTOSHIGE Hori-dōsakuA day in February Heisei 8th

Comtemporary sword (Heisei 8/1996) Shizuoka-pref.
Length of cutting edge 68.8cm Curvature 1.0cm Width of base 32.0mm Width of Yokote 22.4mm Thickness of base 7.8mm

Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, Wide in Mihaba, thick in Kasane holding less degree of tapering from base to a large Kissaki. Heroically heavy on both hands (733grams without habaki)。（click HERE for higher resolution of the blade)
Carvings : On the front side, there are engravings of a lotus pedestal, the Sanskrit character for Bishamonten 毘沙門天 and a trident spear with a bannered halberd. On the reverse side, there are engravings of the Sanskrit character for Kokūzō Bosatsu 虚空蔵菩薩 and a plain sword (suken).
Forging (hada) : Fine Ko-itama-hada whereas the Shinogi-ji shows precise Masame-hada. Hiraji-surface is convered with sparkling Ji-nie glitter where works with darkish grain mark of Chikei-activity.
Boshi : Temper of tip forms wide undulating Notare-ha then becomes small circle turn back with a bit on longer side.

Nakago : UBU original, One peg hole. Slanting left Kattte-sagari Yasurime file marks and back ridge is a bit contoured where slanting left left Katte-sagari file mark apperas. The heel of Nakago forms uneven U-shaped Ha-agari-kurijiri.
On the outer side of the tang above the Mekugi-ana on the Shinogi-ji is the inscription of the forging location: “Tōtōmi-no-kuni” 遠江国. then below the Mekugi-ana, along the Shinogi-suji, there is a long signature engraved in bold chisel strokes that reads: “Oguri MOTOSHIGE" 小栗基重 – "Carving by the same hand” 彫同作. On the reverse side (ura), along the Shinogi-suji, the date of manufacturing is inscribed: “A day in February, Heisei 8” 平成八年二月日 (1996).

The smith Oguri MOTOSHIGE 小栗基重 was born in 1953, Shuchi-gun, Shizuoka-pref,real name Tatsumi 辰巳. He started the practice in 1976 under Kita SADAHIRO 喜多貞寬 who was an senior fellow of the living National Treasure 2nd Gassan Sadaichi 月山貞一 to study sword making. In 1983 in order to obtain the superb technique of sword carving he became a pupil of Yanagimura Senju 柳村仙寿 who is designated as being an important cultural treasure of Okayama-pref,as well as being qualified as Mukansa 無鑑査 who is not submitted to the jury for appraisal classification.
In 1989, he started to display his swords in the Contemporary Swords and Artwork's in The Japanese Sword Museum and has been chosen for the Nyusen awarded as much as 15 times in sword category and 9 times in carving category.

The subject Katana is a masterpiece crafted by Oguri MOTOSHIGE 小栗基重 at the mature age of forty-five. One of the Four Heavenly Kings 四天王- Bishamonten 毘沙門天 is depicted wielding a trident spear to vanquish evil spirits; he is revered as a deity who grants military fortune, protection from misfortune, and household safety.
The Kokūzō Bosatsu 虚空蔵菩薩 is a Buddhist figure believed to bestow wisdom, intelligence, memory and knowledge.
Comes with a double-layer gold foiled Habaki and preserved in a Shirasaya plain wood mount