A74730(S8919)
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Tachi signed Ishido Unju Korekazu saku In the 8th month Kaei 6th Accompanied by Tachi Koshirae with gold Nashiji lacquered saya scattered with Chrysanthemum and Paulownia crests in Maki-e, mounted with Jade ornaments

Shin-Shinto, Late Edo Period(Kaei 6th/1853) Bushu
Length of cutting edge 68.2cm Curvature 2.3cm　Width of base 31.2mm Width of Yokote 21.0mm Tchickness of base 7.0mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)certificate
Awarded the Excellence Prize in the Polishing Division
Contemporary Sword Craftsmen Exhibition 2022
(Gendai Tōshokuten)

Accompanied by Tachi Koshirae with gold Nashiji lacquered saya scattered with Chrysanthemum and Paulownia crests in Maki-e, mounted with Jade ornaments

Reference only


Sugata (Configuration):Shinogi-zukuri with an iori-mune. The blade displays a pronounced Koshizori and terminates in a Chū-kissaki. The Hira-ji is broad in proportion to the Shinogi-ji, while the Shinogi-ridge rises crisply and prominently, producing a powerful and dignified overall construction.(0verall photograph of the blade)
Jihada (Forging Pattern):The Ko-itame forged steel is extremely well packed and finely grained, while the Shinogi-ji tends toward flowing Masame. Abundant Ji-nie adheres thickly and finely across the surface, with Utsuri reflection appearing and prominent Chikei emerging, producing a strong and vigorous Jihada.
Hamon (Temper Pattern):The Yakidashi at the base starts shortly, followed by a deeply undulating Hamon of abundant Nie and Nioi, incorporating Chōji-midare, pointed elements, and Gunome, with considerable variation in width and movement. Along the Habuchi, fine Nie accumulates in thick layers, while within the Ha, numerous Chōji-ashi extend vigorously. In places, Sunagashi is also present. The Nie and Nioi become increasingly brilliant toward both the base and the tip, giving the Hamon a bright and lively radiance.
From the base to the tip, the Hamon brilliance is characterized by a remarkably even and clear Ko-nie-based Chōji-midare. It avoids the coarse, hard Nie often associated with Shin-Shinto blades and instead displays a soft Nioi-guchi, presenting the distinctive Yakiba characteristic of Korekazu.
Bōshi (Point Temper): The Hamon settles at the Yokote, with a high Yakiba on both the Omote and Ura. One Gunome element is burned into the Bōshi, which turns back in a Ko-maru shape in good manner.
Nakago (Tang):The Nakago is fashioned in the distinctive Kijimomo-gata form, with a slight curvature, terminating in a Kuri-jiri. It has carefully executed, somewhat coarse Ō-sujikai Yasurime, finished with Kesho-yasuri. There is one Mekugi-ana in the lower portion of the Nakago.
Above the Mekugi-ana on the Shinogi-ji is the seven-character Tachi style inscriptioni, “Ishido Unju Korekazu saku” 石堂運寿是一作 while on the reverse, along the Shinogi-ridge, is the date of year inscription “In the 8th month, Kaei 6” 嘉永六年八月日.

This is an outstanding example by the Shin-Shinto master Unju Korekazu 運寿是一, renowned for his skill in producing Bizen-den Chōji-midare in a refined Ko-nie style, and regarded as one of the finest smiths of the Shin-Shinto period.
Unju Korekazu 運寿是一, whose personal name was Ishido Masatarō 石堂政太郎 was born in Edo in 1817 (Bunka 14), the nephew of the renowned swordsmith Chōunsai　Tsunatoshi 長運斉綱俊 of Yonezawa in Ushu (now in Yonezawa city, Yamagata pref.). After studying sword forging under his uncle Tsunatoshi, he became the son-in-law of the sixth-generation Unju Korekazu. In 1841 (Tenpō 12), he established his forge in Azabu, Edo, succeeded to the seventh generation of the Ishido Korekazu lineage, and adopted the art name Unjusai 運寿斉.
Unju Korekazu 運寿是一 also served as a swordsmith for the Tokugawa shogunate and was granted permission to use the Aoi crest. He was also a highly accomplished master who trained numerous talented students, including Katsumura Tokukatsu 勝村徳勝 of Mito and Shōken Motooki 松軒元興 of Aizu.
In the early Meiji period, he responded, together with Takahashi Naganobu 高橋長信, to an invitation from the new government to forge swords. In Meiji 2 (1869), he changed his art name to Ryūsen-sai 竜泉斉. He died on October 24, 1891 (Meiji 24), at the age of seventy-five.*
He was regarded as one of the outstanding masters of the Shin-Shinto period, ranking after the great smiths Kiyomaro 清麿, Naotane 直胤, and Sa-Yukihide 左行秀.
His works are frequently signed “Ishido Unju Korekazu seitan” 石堂運寿是一精鍛 or “Fujiwara Korekazu seitan” 藤原是一精鍛 often accompanied on the reverse by a date inscription. While examples with a Bō-hi are occasionally encountered, sword blades bearing other forms of Horimono by himself are exceedingly rare.

This Tachi is a superbly forged work produced in response to a special commission when Unju Korekazu 運寿是一 was thirty-six years old and in the prime of his career. The blade has a broad Mihaba standing firmly on base, while the Nakago forms a traditional Kijimomo style. With its deep Koshi-zori leading to the Chū-kissaki, it presents an elegant and archaic Tachi sugata reminiscent of earlier classical blades.
An outstanding example of Korekazu's favored Bizen-den tradition, this blade is particularly remarkable for the brilliance and clarity of both its Jihada and Hamon.

The accompanying “Court Guard Officer's Tachi Koshirae” is of the type carried by an official responsible for guarding the Imperial Court while dressed in formal Kariginu court attire. It is fitted with a distinctive Fundō-shaped Kara tsuba, while the Tsuka is furnished with Tawara-byō and decorative Mekugi incorporating genuine jade.
Together with the Yamagata kanamono, Seme-kanamono, and Saya-jiri kanamono fittings mounted on the gold Nashiji lacquered saya, decorated with scattered chrysanthemum and paulownia crests in high-relief maki-e, a total of twenty-eight jade ornaments are incorporated into the mounting. The result is an exceptionally sumptuous and dignified Tachi koshirae.

Accompaniment
Tachi Koshirae with gold Nashiji lacquered saya, scattered Chrysanthemum and Paulownia crests in maki-e and Jade ornaments
(Overall photograph and detailed photographs of each component)

Gold-mounted Tachi habaki, preservedn in a Shirasaya.
Recent polish/Condition scale: mint-excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
Award-winning work in the Polishing Division, 2022 Contemporary Sword Craftsmen Exhibition (Gendai Tōshokuten), awarded to Mr. Takamori Hirai.
References:
Honma Kunzan and Ishii Masakuni, Nihontō Meikan, Yūzankaku, 1975.
Satō Kanzan, Edo Shinto Meisakushū, Benrido, 1969.

* There is another theory that Unju Korekazu was born in 1820 (Bunsei 3) and died at the age of seventy-three