AS26549 (Consignment Sale) Wakizashi: Bitchu Ibara Ju Jusuke Kunishige Saku Dated February 1583 (Tensho 11). (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering Number: AS26549 (Consignment Sale)

Wakizashi in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Bitchu Ibara Ju Jusuke Kunishige Saku
Dated February 1583 (Tensho 11).
備中井原住拾助国重作
天正十一年二月日

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku).
This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Bitchu Ibara Ju Jusuke Kunishige.
Habaki: Single gold-foiled habaki.
Blade Length: 45.8 cm (18.03 in).
Curvature: 0.8 cm (0.31 in).
Mekugi Hole: 3.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.76 cm (1.09 in).
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.70 cm (0.28 in).
Sword Weight: 375 g.
Era: Muromachi period, around the Tensho era (1573–1592).
Shape: A sturdy, well-proportioned hira-zukuri wakizashi with noticeable sakizori (curvature toward the tip).
Jigane: Well-forged ko-itame hada with faint utsuri.
Hamon: Nie-deki gunome-midare.
The boshi displays a midare pattern with a turnback.

Features: Bitchu Ibara Ju Jusuke Kunishige was a swordsmith from Bitchu Province whose personal name was Sato Jusuke.
He was a disciple of the 3rd-generation Kunisuke.
This is a rare example of his work from the Muromachi period.
Blades bearing a date inscription on the reverse side of the tang are particularly uncommon.

Historical Background: The year 1583 (Tensho 11) was a turbulent and decisive period in Japanese history.
Following the upheaval caused by the Honnoji Incident in 1582, Hashiba Hideyoshi (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi) established himself as the leading successor to Oda Nobunaga’s political and military power.

The Battle of Shizugatake and the Fall of Shibata Katsuie
One of the most significant conflicts of 1583 arose from disputes over succession within the Oda clan and the distribution of territories.
Hashiba Hideyoshi confronted Shibata Katsuie, one of Nobunaga’s most senior retainers, in the Battle of Shizugatake.
After his defeat, Shibata Katsuie retreated to his stronghold at Kitanosho Castle in Echizen Province (present-day Fukui Prefecture).
There, he committed suicide together with his wife, Lady Oichi, the younger sister of Oda Nobunaga.

The Death of Oda Nobutaka

Oda Nobutaka, Nobunaga’s 3rd son, had allied himself with Shibata Katsuie in opposition to Hideyoshi.
Following Katsuie’s defeat, Nobutaka became politically isolated.
Under pressure from Hideyoshi, he was forced to commit suicide in May 1583 at Utsumi in Owari Province (present-day Aichi Prefecture).
This effectively eliminated one of the most influential remaining members of the Oda family capable of challenging Hideyoshi’s authority.

Construction of Osaka Castle

Following his victory at the Battle of Shizugatake, Hideyoshi began consolidating his position as the dominant ruler of Japan.
In September 1583, he commenced construction of Osaka Castle on the former site of Ishiyama Honganji.
The castle eventually developed into an enormous and magnificent fortress, remarkable for its scale and splendor.
It became a powerful symbol of Hideyoshi’s growing political authority.

The year 1583 was therefore a turning point in Japanese history, marking Hideyoshi’s decisive victory in the struggle for power following Nobunaga’s death and paving the way for the establishment of the Toyotomi government.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token.
AoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.

Please note: The price does not include the international shipping fees.