AS40069 Wakizashi: Mumei (attributed to Hatakeda Sanemori)43rd NBTHK Juyo Token)

Wakizashi: Shirasaya with Koshirae (43rd NBTHK Juyo Token)

Signature: Mumei (attributed to Hatakeda Sanemori)
無銘(畠田真守)

Koto: Jyojyo Saku: Mid-Kamakura period (circa 1250s): Bizen
We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This blade is ranked as Saijyo Saku among the works attributed to Mumei (Hatakeda Sanemori).
Habaki: Double-layered, gold-covered
Blade Length: 56.8 cm (22.36 in)
Curvature: 1.0 cm (0.39 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.36 cm
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.76 cm
Thickness of the rim:0.44 cm
Sword Weight: 400 g
Era: Mid-Kamakura period, around Shōō era (circa 1288)
Shape: A slightly small tachi-style wakizashi with standard width and thickness.
The curvature is slightly shallow, and the kissaki is somewhat long.
Jigane: A bo-hi (groove) is carved on one side and runs off the blade.
It shows itame-hada with visible utsuri.
Hamon: A nioi-deki temper line with choji-midare as the main pattern, mixed with gunome-midare.
Kin-suji appears in the blade.
The boshi drops gently and turns back in a small circle (ko-maru).

Features: Hatakeda Sanemori was an esteemed swordsmith active around the Shōō era and is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among Koto smiths.
The shinogi-ji on one side shows itame-hada, which is thought to be the same as the surface jigane, indicating it is likely made from a single piece.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Vertical oval-shaped shakudo nanako-ji tsuba, with a high-relief carving of a dragon and gold inlay.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo nanako-ji with high-relief carvings of lions and peonies, decorated with gold inlay.
Signature: Naomitsu
Saya: Black ishime-ji saya with a gold maki-e design of a cloud dragon.
Kojiri: Shakudo with a high-relief carving of a dragon.
Menuki: High-relief design of lions.

Aoi Art’s Comment:　Although unsigned, this blade is suriage with a length close to that of a tachi.
It beautifully displays the choji-midare pattern of Hatakeda Sanemori from the mid-Kamakura period.
The koshirae is also superb, with a gold-painted dragon design on the saya.
Highly recommended piece.

43rd NBTHK Juyo Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata