AS24769 Katana：Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane(53rd NBTHK Juyo Token)

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (53rd NBTHK Juyo Token)

Signature: Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane
坂倉言之進照包

We divide four sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku, and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Saijyo Saku.
Habaki: Double-layered gold-covered
Blade Length: 2 shaku 2 sun 3 bu 5 rin (67.7 cm / 26.65 in)
Curvature: 6 bu 5 rin (1.97 cm / 0.78 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.37 cm (1.33 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.38 cm (0.94 in)
Thickness (Kasane): 0.73 cm (0.29 in)
Sword Weight: 765 g
Era: Around the Kanbun period, Edo period
Shape:A wide blade with a firm thickness and slightly deep curvature.
The boshi (tip) is long and well-formed, with a good volume of meat (niku).
Jigane:Finely forged ko-itame hada, characteristic of Osaka-jigane.
Hamon:A nioi-based suguha with a very deep nioiguchi.
It has a misty appearance with ashi entering, featuring sunagashi and kinsuji.
The boshi is rounded, with a deep nioiguchi that sweeps back softly.

Features:This is a Juyo Token from the 53rd evaluation by Sakakura Gonnoshin Terukane.
It showcases a magnificent suguha with a deep nioiguchi, which is extremely rare.
Most Juyo Token feature gunome-midare, making this suguha a particularly unique example.
Its beauty remains engaging over time, with well-functioning sunagashi and kinsuji forming a dynamic scenery within the blade.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Mokko-gata shape, made of shakudō nanako-ji, featuring a high-relief dragon design with gold inlays.
Fuchikashira: Shakudō nanako-ji with a high-relief tiger motif, adorned with gold inlays.
Saya (Scabbard): Ishime-ji saya, featuring 136 evenly spaced horizontal black lacquer lines.
The precision required for this technique is exceptional, showcasing the remarkable skill of Japanese artisans.
Menuki: Shakudō with a high-relief (unknown motif).

53rd NBTHK Juyo Token
Aoi Art’s Estimation Paper & Whole Oshigata Include