AS25254 Katana: Mumei (Aoe school)(the 25th Juyo Token)

Katana in Shirasaya (the 25th Juyo Token)

Signature: Mumei (Aoe school 青江)

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This blade is ranked as Saijyo Saku (top grade) among unsigned Aoe works.

Habaki: Double-layered gold-covered Habaki
Blade Length: 72.4 cm (28.50 in)
Curvature: 2.1 cm (0.83 in)
Mekugi Hole: 3
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.96 cm (1.17 in)
Width at Yokote (Sakihaba): 2.10 cm (0.83 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.73 cm (0.29 in)
Sword Weight: 685 g
Era: Nanbokucho period, the mid to late 14th century
Shape: wide and thick blade with big Kissaki.
Jigane: Itame hada mixed flowing grain pattern and Utsuri appears.
Hamon: Nioi-based tight suguha with Ashi and Yo.

Features:
The Aoe school was active in Bitchu Province from the Kamakura period through the Nanbokucho period.
Works from the mid-Kamakura period are referred to as Ko-Aoe, while later pieces are simply called Aoe.
Ko-Aoe blades are characterized by a suguha hamon with small nie, whereas works from the Nanbokucho period tend to show a tighter nioiguchi suguha or Sakasa-choji midare.
This work clearly exhibits the characteristics of Aoe from the Nanbokuchō period in both its shape and hamon. The form suggests it was originally a long tachi, and traces of the hamon can still be faintly seen within the rust on the tang.

the 25th Juyo Certificate (reissued)
Aoi Art estimation paper with whole oshigata