S63130(S1900)
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Katana signed Izu koku TATSUYOSHI-saku Auspicious day, Spring, the Monkey in the 9th Calender sign of Heisei

Contemporary sword (Heisei 4/1992) Shizuoka-pref.
Length of cutting edge 74.5cm Curvature 2.0cm Width of base 34.9mm Width of Yokote 25.5mm Thickness of base 7.2mm

Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri with an Iori-mune. The blade is extended in length with a broad Mihaba leading to a large Ō-kissaki. The blade tapers less from the base and the tip where is swelling in full, giving the piece a massive and powerful appearance. Including the Habaki, the blade weighs 905 grams producing a heavy and solid feel in both hands. (Enlarged blade photographs)
Forging Surface (Kitae-hada): Well-forged Itame-hada with prominent Chikei. Ji-nie thickly forms throughout and the steel exhibits a bright, vigorous color showing a highly resilient forging.
Hamon: Nie-deki Notare mixed with a complex small Gunome pattern, forming a turbulent Midare of Togari-ha, Hako-ba and Yahazu-midare toward the Yokote with isolated quenching lines of Ni-ju ha and some Tobiyaki spil here and there. 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 due Ashi of the Gunome radiate toward the edge with flowting YOU activities.
Bōshi: Irregularly entering strongly brushed out "Hakikake".
Tang (Nakago): Ubu in original. The Nakago is slightly ship-bottom-shaped, ending in a Kurijiri. The file marks "Yasurime" is greatly slanting left "Ō-Sujikai" with decorative finish "Kesho-yasuri" and the Mune side also bears decorative Ō-Sujikai with horizontal mark.
One Mekugi-ana. Next to the Mekugi-ana on the omote, on the Shinogi-ji surface, there is three-character of the place of work “伊豆国 Izukoku” and on the Shinogi-suji is inscribed with the smith name “竜義作 TATSUYOSHI-saku”. The other side is chiselled with the date of year "平成壬申年春吉日 Auspicious day, Spring, the Monkey in the 9th calender sign of Heisei" (i.e.1992).

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 榎本栄一郎 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.

The subject katana displays a remarkably large and extended point of Ō-kissaki, a bold and powerful form. It is a laborious work modeled after Naoe-Shizu 直江志津, striving to approach the profound essence of the Sōshū tradition from Nanbokucho period.
Jitetsu is Itame-hada with thick, swirling Chikei activity, 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. Forming isolated spots of Tobiyaki or streaming quench of Niju-ha, while the interior of the Hamon is filled with Nie and shines with exceptional clarity. The Bōshi is vigorously brushed away.

The Nakago, ending in Kurijiri, still gleams with its silvery finish from the time of manufacture, with fine decorative file marks and the long-character signature “伊豆国 竜義作 Izu-koku TATSUYOSHI-saku” together with the manufacturing date and year in terms of the Oriental zodiac “Auspicious day, Spring, the Monkey in the 9th Calender sign of Heisei 平成壬申年春吉日” when he was matured 40 years old.

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