AS17154 Katana:Yasunori (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Showa 13 Nen 12 Gatsu Kichijitsu(December, 1938)
Yasunori
昭和十三年十二月吉日
靖徳

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku for Yasunori.
Habaki: Single-layered, made of plain copper
Blade Length: 63.9 cm (25.16 in)
Curvature: 1.8 cm (0.71 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.81 cm (1.11 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.06 cm (0.81 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.82 cm (0.32 in)
Weight:720 grams
Era: Showa 13 (1938)
Shape: Standard width and thickness with moderate curvature.
This piece closely resembles the style of Yasukuni swords from that period.
Jigane: Ko-itame hada is well forged and densely packed, appearing almost plain.
Hamon: Nie-based. Straight-line pattern with a mixture of gunome and choji-midare.
Features ko-ashi and nezu-ashi. Boshi is round and turns back.

Features: Yasuyoshi, whose real name was Kotani Kenzo, was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1909 (Meiji 42).
He joined the Nihonto Tanrenkai in 1933 (Showa 8) as an apprentice under Kajiyama Yasunori.
In 1935 (Showa 10), he was granted the smith name Yasunori by Army Minister Hayashi.
He received the President’s Award at the 2nd Army Gunto Exhibition and also forged swords for shrine offerings, producing around 1,600 blades.
In 1938 (Showa 13), he established his own forge at home.
He began forging swords for relatives and friends, signing them as Takenori.
This work was made before the war and shows the meticulous craftsmanship characteristic of Yasunori.

NBTHK Hozon Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper with whole Oshigata