AS22427 Katana: Ishido Unju Korekazu(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)
Signature:
Ishido Unju Korekazu Seitan Saku Kore 石堂運寿是一精鍛作之
Ansei 3 Nen 8 Gatsuhi 安政三年八月日

(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.
The blade was polished.

Habaki: Shakudo single Habaki.
Blade length: 74.56cm or 29.35inches.
Sori: 2.12 cm or 0.83inches.
Mekugi:1
Width at the hamachi: 3.05cm or 1.20inches.
Width at the Kissaki: 2.11cm or 0.83inches.
Kasane: 0.73cm or 0.28inches.
The weight of the sword: 800grams
Shape: The blade is 74cm long with deep Sori and slightly longer Kissaki. Well-shaped.
Jigane: Koitamehada is grained well with Jinie. Beautiful surface.
Hamon: Niedeki, Chojimidare with lots of Ashi. Sunagashi and Kinsuji work in Ha. Boshi is Midarekomi.

Era: Ansei 3(1856), the end of of the Edo period
Features: Ishido Unju Korekazu is a swordsmith from Yonezawa province. He learned sword making from his uncle, Kato Tsunatoshi and moved to Edo. After the 6th generation Jujiro Korekazu passed away, he succeeded to the 7th generation. He is famous for that he was the most skilled swordsmith among every swordsmith from Korekazu school. In September 1843, he was approved to engrave Aoi Mon by the achievement that he have forged a great sword for Hamagoden. In 1867, he, Takahashi Naganobu, and others were engaged to the new government. Pupils: Matunoki Motooki, Katsumura Tokkatsu etc. He was good at Soden Bizen, mixture of Soshuden and Bizenden, he was famous for his high technique. He passed away at the age of 75 in Meiji 4(1891). This work was made in the very last years of the Edo period, Bakumatsu.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Round-shaped Shakudo Tsuba.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo-Nanako plate, peony is engraved with gold color.
Saya: Black roiro Saya.
Menuki: On Shakudo plate, flowers are engraved.

From Aoi Art:Ishido Unju Koreich had the outstanding skills in Soden Bizen amongst all the Shinshinto swordsmiths, and he had no second of making smoky deep Nioikuchi in Ha. It is like a beautiful landscape. This work has strong Chojimidare with slightly deep Nioikuchi, giving it a unique atmosphere.
Unlike many of his powerful swords, which sword　was made in the image of Morimitsu, has soft atmosphere.
Jigane, Hamon that looks as if it were painted on canvas are very beautiful, and even the details of the pattern on the Nakago is also clean and beautiful. This is a flawless work by a swordsmith who is designated as Shinshinto Jojosaku swordsmith. We trully recommend this sword.

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