S63765(W3221)
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Osoraku-tukuri Wakizashi signed TATSUYOSHI-saku Summer, Inthe 5th year of Heisei

Contemporary sword (Heisei 5/1993) Shizuoka-pref.
Length of cutting edge 32.6cm Length of Tip 22.1cm Curvature 0.6cm Width of base 32.2mm Width of Yokote 31.5mm Thickness of base 7.0mm


Blade construction: Osoraku-zukuri with an Iori-mune. The blade is extended in length with a broad Mihaba, high Shinogi-suji and the Shinogi-ji shaved down toward the mack ridge of Mune. The blade tapers less from the base and the tip where is swelling in full and the Saki-kasane is thick, giving the piece a massive and powerful appearance. Including the Habaki, the blade weighs 423 grams producing a heavy and solid feel in hand. (Enlarged blade photographs)
Forging Surface (Kitae-hada): Well-forged Itame-hada with prominent Chikei. Ji-nie forms throughout, and the steel exhibits a bright, vigorous color, showing a highly resilient forging.
Hamon: Nie-deki Notare mixed with a complex, large Gunome pattern, forming a turbulent Midare toward the Yokote with isolated spots of Tobiyaki. In the valleys of the Hamon, clusters of Nie accumulate, forming thick Nie, over which Inazuma and Kinsen streaks run, accompanied by frequent Sunagashi-streams, giving the edge a bright, clear brilliance. The interior of the Hamon is filled with deep Nioi and the Ashi of the Gunome radiate toward the edge like bright flashes of light.
Bōshi: Irregularly entering strongly brushed out (Hakikake), turning back in a small round (komaru) manner then deeply tempered down.
Tang (Nakago): Ubu in original. The Nakago is slightly boat-bottom-shaped on the blade side, ending in a Kurijiri. The file marks (Yasurime) is Ō-Sujikai with decorative finish and the Mune side also bears decorative Ō-Sujikai. One Mekugi-ana. Below the Mekugi-ana on the omote, along the shinogi line, is three-character signature “竜義作 (TATSUYOSHI-saku),” and on the ura is inscribed the date “平成五年夏 (Summer in the 5th year of Heisei)”.

TATSUYOSHI 竜義 was born as Enomoto Eiichirō 榎本栄一郎 on October 31, 1951 at 3-15-21 Ōmiya-chō, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture, the eldest son of the Mukansa swordsmith Yūsui-shin SADAYOSHI 湧水心貞吉, a master who studied under the renowned Gassan Sadakatsu 月山貞勝. Along with his younger brother Enomoto SADAHITO 榎本貞人 (real name Enomoto Einsaburō 榎本栄七朗), he is regarded as one of the representative swordsmiths of the modern era.

Enomoto Eiichirō first received the smith name “Sadayoshi 貞義” from Dr. Satō Kanzan, but because it's pronouncing is the same as his father “Sadayoshi 貞吉”, he changed it to “TATSUYOSHI 竜義” upon his marriage.
He studied under his father, mastering the craftmanship. Since his first submission to the Shinsaku-tō Exhibition in 1975, he has been captivated by the dynamic Chikei, Kinsen and the radiant strength of Nie characteristic of the Sōshū tradition, forging with the aim of achieving masterpieces in that style and earning numerous selections and awards.

This Osoraku-tukuri displays a remarkably large and extended point measures as long as 22.1cm long, a bold and powerful form. It is a laborious work modeled after Minamoto Kiyomaro 源清麿, striving to approach the profound essence of the Sōshū tradition.
Jitetsu is Itame-hada with thick, flowing Chikei, bright and clear in steel color. The layered Gunome pattern bears thick Nie along the edge with Kinsen and Sunagashi streaking across to cut through the radiating Ashi. Above the Yokote, the Nie becomes even stronger and brighter, forming isolated spots of Tobiyaki, while the interior of the Hamon is filled with Nie and shines with exceptional clarity. The Bōshi is vigorously brushed and returns in a komaru.

The Nakago, ending in Kurijiri, still gleams with its silvery finish from the time of manufacture, with fine decorative file marks and the three-character signature “竜義作 (TATSUYOSHI-saku)” together with the date “Summer in the 5th year of Heisei 平成五年夏” when the smith was matured 41 years old.

The Osoraku-zukuri construction—where the yokote is positioned unusually far down the blade and the point becomes very large and sharp—takes its name from the 7-sun-7-bu (23.3 cm) Tantō by Sunshu-Shimada SUKEMUNE 駿州島田助宗 once possessed by Takeda Shingen 武田信玄, whose blade bears the characters “おそらく” engraved on it. The word is believed to mean “extraordinary,” “unparalleled,” or “unlike anything else.”

Silver single-layer Habaki, preserved in a plain wood mounting Shirasaya