AS25176 Katana： Mumei (Naoe Shizu) (47th NBTHK Juyo Token)

Ordering number:AS25176

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (47th NBTHK Juyo Token)

Signature: Mumei (Naoe Shizu)
無銘(直江志津)

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Saijyo Saku among the unsigned swords attributed to Naoe Shizu.
Habaki: Double-layered gold foil.
Blade Length: 71.0 cm (27.95 in)
Curvature: 1.4 cm (0.55 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.02 cm (1.19 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.10 cm (0.83 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.68 cm (0.27 in)
Sword Weight: 710 g
Era: Nanbokucho period
Shape: Regular width with bohi and soehi (groove and accompanying groove) carved.
Jigane: Hada is clearly visible with itame mixed, and utsuri appears.
Hamon: Made in nie-deki, gunome-midare with double lines, and nioikuchi is soft and deep.
Inside the blade, sunagashi and kinsuji are actively present.
The boshi is midare-komi with hakikake.

Features:　”Shizu” was originally the name of a place in Mino Province, but when Kanemitsu—one of the ten great disciples of Masamune—moved to the area and began forging swords there, he came to be known as Shizu Saburo Kaneuji, taking the place name.
Later, his disciples such as Kanetomo, Kanetsugu, Kaneshige, and Kanenobu relocated to Naoe in Mino Province, and they came to be referred to as “Naoe Shizu.”
This piece is an excellent work, with a well-tempered jigane and hamon, displaying a bright and clear appearance.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: An iron tsuba in oval vertical shape, with a sukashi carving of an omodaka (arrowhead plant) design, partially accented with gold color and rimmed in shakudo. The signature “Umetada Hikohisa” is legible.
Fuchikashira: Carved with a shō (traditional Japanese wind instrument) motif on a nanako shakudo ground, with gold inlay.
Saya: Glossy black lacquered saya (kuro ro-iro saya).
Menuki: Carved with a shō motif on a nanako shakudo ground, with gold inlay.

47th NBTHK Juyo Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata