AS25652 Wakizashi:Hayatonosuke Minamoto Yasutsugu (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25652

Wakizashi in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Hayatonosuke Minamoto Yasutsugu
隼人佐源安次

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This sword is ranked as Jyojyo Saku (Upper-Upper Grade).
Habaki: Double-layered with gold foil
Blade Length: 54.2 cm (21.34 in)
Curvature: 1.4 cm (0.55 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.20 cm (1.26 in)
Width at Yokote: 2.35 cm (0.93 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.69 cm (0.27 in)
Sword Weight: 570 g
Era: Edo period, Tenna era (1681 CE)
Shape:This piece has an excellent form, with a wide body, thick kasane, and an extended kissaki.
Jigane:Well-forged ko-itame hada with a beautiful appearance.
Hamon:Large gunome-midare in a tōranba style, with a deep nioiguchi, making it a top-quality gunome-midare.
It includes tobiyaki, and the boshi is rounded with a deep turn-back.

Features:　Hayatonosuke Minamoto Yasutsugu was a swordsmith from Nagato who was active around the Tenna era.
I was truly surprised at the skill displayed in this piece.
The tōranba resembles that of Sukehira, with a wide nioiguchi and beautifully controlled midare.
Production numbers were likely extremely low.
During the Edo period, the focus of swordmaking began to shift toward the production of more refined, artistic swords for appreciation.
About 20 years before this blade was made, Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehiro introduced the tōranba, which must have been a significant and shocking influence on Yasutsugu.
It seems likely that this blade was completed under such influence.
The level of craftsmanship and completion here is truly remarkable.
Japanese swords often provide such surprises.
There was once a swordsmith who believed he had originated a certain style, only to discover that it had already been realized in a much earlier period.
For instance, Gassan Sadakazu, who was believed to have first developed the Gassan hada, was astonished to find earlier examples of it.
I believe this sword will likewise astonish anyone who sees it.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper with whole oshigata