AS25154 Katana: Mumei (Attributed to Den Taima)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Katana: Shirasaya with Koshirae(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Attributed to Den Taima)
無銘 伝（当麻）

Sayagaki:Taima O-suriage
Blade Length: 2 shaku 2 sun 8 bu (approx. 69.1 cm)
Written in August, 1978 by Dr. Kunzan (with kaō)

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku (Excellent Work) among Mumei (Attributed to Den Taima) pieces.
Habaki: Double-layered, gold-covered
Blade Length: 70.0 cm (27.56 in)
Curvature: 1.9 cm (0.75 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.87 cm (1.13 in)
Width at Yokote (Sakihaba): 1.8 cm (0.71 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.72 cm (0.28 in)
Sword Weight: 675 grams
Era: Mid-Kamakura period (circa 13th century)
Shape: Standard width and thickness with deep curvature and extended kissaki.
Jigane: Itame with mokume mixed in, containing chikei.
Shinogiji: As a Taima work from Yamato, finely packed masame appears in the shinogiji.
Hamon: Deep nioiguchi with prominent sunagashi and kinsuji within the blade.
The hamon becomes narrower around the monouchi area, but activity inside the blade remains vigorous.
Double hamon and hakikake can be seen in the boshi.

Features: This piece is published in Kantō Hibi-shō (II) by Dr. Kunzan, page 433.Described as: Katana: Mumei, Attributed to Taima Blade Length: 2.28 shaku 2 mekugi-ana
Standard width and kissaki High shinogi Forging: Itame, ōhada, nagare-hada, mixed with masame Well-packed ji-nie with prominent chikei Hamon has dense nioi and strong nie with hotsure, vivid sunagashi, and kinsuji Shinogiji is masame
Boshi is strong with yakitsume style.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Vertical oval-shaped shakudo nanako-ji tsuba with a design of cloud and dragon, decorated with gold iroe (colored metal inlay).
Menuki: Shakudo base with a dragon motif.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo nanako-ji with cloud and dragon design, decorated with gold iroe.
Saya (Scabbard): Black lacquered saya.

Aoi Art’s Comment: This Taima sword is of excellent quality, with active sunagashi and kinsuji within the blade, and a flawless polish.
The jigane is dense, with fine activity all the way to the edge, showing high craftsmanship.
It includes a valuable saya-gaki by Dr. Kunzan, also published in Kantō Hibi-shō (II).
Highly recommended, especially for those studying Taima works.
Its shape, hamon, shinogiji, and kinsuji are all highly educational and representative of the school.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata