MUKANSA award artist (2009)
with) Artificial amber lacquered scabbard Aikuchi-style Tanto Koshirae
Length of cutting edge 724.1cm No Curvature Width of base 24.1mm Thickness of base 5.1mm
Forging(Hada): Forging is fine Itame-hada. The surface shows moistened beauty of jet-black luster of Chikei along Itama-hada against fine sparkling Ji-nie reflection.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon forms with Nie hard metal granules base, a Gunome on waist, undulating indication of Notare with slight sign of small Gunome, upper the blade, wider and larger the temper. Boundary line glows bright flash with a bit coarse Nie and the interior is filled with dense mist of Nioi where short lines of Sunagashi or long line of Kinsuji appears.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of Boshi is sharpened-up in Togari where is active with Hakikake then turns back long.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is in UBU original . Kurijiri (double-bevelled) heel shape. One peg hole.Ō-sujikai (greatly slanting left) with horizontal Kesho filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is a contoured with Ō-sujikai mark. The signature in front starts with place of work Mino-koku 美濃國 then smith name KANEKUNI-saku 兼國作. The other side is inscribed with the date of year An auspicious day in the 2nd month Heisei 23rd 平成二十三年二月吉日.
Smith Ogawa KANEKUNI 尾川兼國, real name is Ogawa Mitsutoshi 尾川光敏, was born in Showa 28 (1953) as a second son of 1st generation of smith Ogawa KANUKUNI 尾川兼圀. He joined to his father's Ogawa Kanekuni Sword Studio in Hachiman, Muge-town, Seki city, Gifu prefecture when he was 33 years old.
Both father and son has won the top two prizes in the Exhibition of Newly Made Swords Exhibition contest and finally father KANEKUNI 兼圀 was offered the top rated prize MUKANSA award in 2006 then obtained the honor prize of Important Intangible Cultural Property Gifu prefecture in 2008. Our deepest sympathy on the passing of father KANEKUNI 兼國 in November 26, Heisei 24 (2012) at 87 years old.
In Heisei 21 (2009), Japanese Sword Preservation Society (NBTHK) also offered the top skill prize MUKANSA award to KANEKUNI 兼國 (a maker of this Tanto)
The subject Tanto is dated Heisei 23 (2011). A bit on inward curve and moderate length in well-proportion created in an archaic style from Kamakura age. Elaborate forging with refined steel appears sparkling fine and uniform granules so called Ji-Nie that generates darkish Nie lines of Itame grain so called CHIKEI activity.
Hamon bears a close resembles to one of the Soushu works from Kamakura period - quench outline is covered with vividly sparking Nie granules deep like virgin snow. The crystallized quench line works with frequent long or short lines of Nie (Sunagashi) and Threadlike Kinsen in accordance with Itame-hada and the interior of temper is filled with silver-white mist-like crystallize area deeply.
This is one of the quite a few examples of Tanto works by KANEKUNI 兼國 and is strongly influenced by the ancient Samonji 左文字 works, created in an archaic style in shape, Itame forging and the quench technique to prove that he is one of the top skilled active sword artisans in Soushu tradition.
with) Artificial amber lacquered scabbard Aikuchi-style Tanto Koshirae
(click HERE for entire Koshirae in front and HERE for the other side / HERE for hilt / HERE for each part)
- Menuki : Shishi lions design, Shakudo ground Katabori carving, Gold Iroe
- Tsuka : White laysklin Buffalo horn Mekugi
- Sageo : Brown fumigate leather
Excellent polish/Condition scale: mint (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
