AS22335 Katana: Sasshu Ju Masayoshi(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number: AS22335

Katana in Shirasaya(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Sasshu Ju Masayoshi
薩州住正良　
Anei 8 Nen Inoshishi 4 Gatsu
安永八年亥四月

translation: Sasshu Ju Masayoshi(Masayuki) made this sword in April,1780.
Sayagaki: A work by Sasshu Ju Masayoshi in April 1780(Anei 8, Inoshishi).
One of the masterpieces. The blade length is 2 Shaku 4 Sun 6 Bu(around 75cm).
Written by Kanzan on a lucky day in summer, 1966(Meiji Hinoeuma).

Shinshinto: Jyo Jyo Saku: Satsuma.
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo Jyo saku ranking.
habaki: Gold foiled double Habaki
The blade was polished.
Blade length: 75.1cm or　29.56　inches.
Sori:1.4cm or 0.55 inches.
Mekugi:1
Width at the hamachi: 3.38cm or 1.33 inches.
Width at the Kissaki 2.29 cm or 0.90 inches.
Kasane: 0.76cm or 0.29 inches.
The weight of the sword: 900grams
Era: In April of Anei 8(1780), the Edo period
Shape: The blade is broad and thick with longer Kissaki and deep Sori. Well-shaped.
Jigane: Koitamehada is grained well with Jinie. Beautiful Jigane.
Hamon: Niedeki Gunomemidare with deep Nioikuchi, Niju-ba with active Ashi.
Sunagashi and Kinsuji work well in Hachu. Boshi is Midarekomi and Hakikake.
The other side becomes Niju-ba.

Special feature: Sasshu Ju Masayoshi and Hoki Kami Taira Ason Masayuki are the same people.
He was a pupil of Masachika, and the oldest work was made around the Horeki era.
He changed his Mei into Masayuki when he succeeded to Hoki Kami. He was born in Kyoho 18
and passed away in Bunsei 1 at the age of 86. He wrote books about making swords
and contributed to the education of swordsmiths. His Mei is really nicely-engraved.
This Nakago has very clear Yasurime: very healthy condition.

From Aoi Art: Sasshu Ju Masayoshi had great reputations in Kagoshima prefecture,
as much as Motohira from Kagoshima. They are sometimes called as the best two in Kyushu.
This work is long with deep Sori: truly excellent. They didn’t want their swords
to be made into fake swords, so they tried their best to prevent making fakes.
They engraved a line on Nakago, a little bit displaced from the centre,
or merely made a really thin Nakago. Actually, we have some of their swords
which have Samonji or Shizu sigunatures, and especially, we have to be careful
when the swords have Hi. This Soshuden work has really active Chikei, so it looks like Naoe Shizu swords.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata　by　Ayaka Tsuruta