AS23019 Katana: Mumei(Naoe Shizu)/Mumei(Shitahara)/Mumei(Harima Daijo Shigetaka)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)(Two NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering number: AS23019
Katana in Shirasaya(NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)(Two NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature : Mumei(Naoe Shizu) NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token. Signature : Mumei(Shitahara) NBTHK Hozon Token.
Signature : Mumei(Harima Daijo Shigetaka) NBTHK Hozon Token.

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku Jyo saku and regular
saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo Jyo Saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki : Gold foiled single habaki.
Blade length : 69.1 cm or 27.2 inches.
Sori : 1.2cm or 0.47 inches.
Mekugi : 2
Width at the hamachi : 2.98 cm or 1.173 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.18 cm or 0.86 inches.
Kasane : 0.64cm or 0.252 inches.
The weight of the sword 740 grams.
Era : Naoe Shizu, Nanbokucho period.
Shitahara, Edo period around Kanei era.
Shape : The blade is O-suriage mumei.
the blade is rather wide and thick
with regular sori and longer kissaki.
Jigane :Koitame hada and mokume hada mixed with jinie attach and chikei work. beautiful texture.
Hamon :Niedeki gunome midare togati gunome mixed ashi work and in Hamon, sunagashi and long kinsuji work.

Special feature:Kaneuji, one of the Masamune 10 Tetsu, came to the land　of Mino Kuni Shizu and the sect prospered, but later masters　like Kanetomo, Kanetsugu, Kaneshige, and others moved to Naoe to make their swords. These sword makers are called as “Naoe Shizu”.

From Aoi Art: In the past, this work has passed Shinsa by the Japanese Sword Museum as Naoe Shizu, but as a result of being submitted to the examination again, it was identified as Shitahara. It is true that Taihai is in the shape of Shinto, but Hamon can be seen up to the center of Nakago, so it is judged to be Osuriage Mumei. Shinogi ji’s jigane is Itame hada to Mokume hada, and there is almost no Masame hada. Kinsuji works for hamon at many points in Hachu, and Bo-shi works like Yakizume and Kinsuji and Hakigake work along its Hamon. At least, it is a well-made sword that can be considered as a work around Kanenobu before the middle of the Muromachi period. In any case, at the Japanese Sword Museum, jigane was judged to be Yagumo kitae which is a typical Shitahara sword maker’s special
feature. It may have been seen by Taihai as shinto. Appraisal is difficult. Please judge it as a well-made work of shitahara.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token. Naoe shizu.
NBTHK HozonToken. Shitahara.
NBTHK HozonToken. Harima Daijo Shigetaka.
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata.