AS25101 Katana: Oite Echigo no Kuni Yoshimitsu Saku Kore(August, 1990)

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae

Inscription:
Oite Echigo Koku Yoshimitsu Saku Kore 於越後国義光作之
Heisei 2 Nen 8Gatsu Kichijitsu 平成二年八月吉日 (August, 1990)
(棟)自灯庵仙琇彫之 Jitoan Senshu Kore wo Horu

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku)
This work is ranked as Saijyo Saku for the works of Yoshimitsu from Echigo Province.

Habaki: Single Habaki
Blade Length: 71.0 cm (27.95 in)
Curvature: 2.1 cm (0.83 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.48 cm (1.37 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.56 cm (1.01 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 1.02 cm (0.40 in)
Sword Weight: 995 g
Era: August, 1991
Shape: wide and thick blade with deep curveture with Ububa. A vivid carving of a dragon and characteres “八幡大菩薩(Hachiman Daibosatsu)” were carved by Kokeguchi Senshu.
Jigane: fine Ko-itame hada
Hamon: bright and clear intense Choji midare with much Ashi and Yo.

Features:　Ohno Yoshimitsu is a modern swordsmith born in Niigata Prefecture, who studied under Yoshiwara Yoshindo.
He exhibited for the first time at the 1975 New Sword Exhibition and received the Encouragement Award. Since then, he has won numerous awards and was certified as a Mukansa (non-inspected) swordsmith in 1987. He specializes in makindg Juka Choji (complex Choji midare) like Ichimonji and is well known for his reproductions of the national treasure “Sanchomou”.

Koshirae:
Tsuba:Round-shaped shakudonanako tsuba, a picture of dragons.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo plate, a picture of waves and a dragon.
Saya: black lacquered saya with golden familycrest.
Menuki: a picture of a dragon coiled around a sword.

From Aoi-Art:
This is a magnificent piece by Master Swordsmith Ohno Yoshimits, who is renowned as one of the finest contemporary swordsmiths.
It is extremely distinctive, and it stirs great curiosity as to how it will be evaluated a thousand years from now.

Aoi Art Estimation Paper: Whole Oshigata