AS23483 Katana:Oshu Sendai ju (partially cut) (Genjirō Kunikane)(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Katana: in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Mei (Signature): Oshu Sendai ju (partially cut) (Genjirō Kunikane)
奥州仙台住(以下切)（源次郎国包）

Shinto: Jō-saku: Rikuzen
At our company, we classify workmanship into the categories: Sai-jō saku (supreme), Jō-jō saku (excellent), Jō-saku (good), and Futsu-saku (ordinary).
This piece is ranked as Jō-jō saku for Oshu Sendai ju (Genjirō Kunikane).
Habaki: Silver single-piece
Nagasa (Blade length): 71.1 cm
Sori (Curvature): 0.8 cm
Mekugi-ana (Rivet holes): 3
Motohaba (Width at base): 2.95 cm
Sakihaba (Width at tip): 2.03 cm
Kasane (Thickness): 0.63 cm
Weight: 730 g
Era: Edo period, around Jōkyō era (circa 1684)
Shape:The blade has a slightly wide body with standard thickness and shallow curvature. The kissaki is slightly extended.
Jigane (Forging):Well-forged masame-hada with ji-nie attached and chikei appearing.
Hamon (Temper pattern):Nie-deki suguha with well-activated ashi, frequent ha, sunagashi, and kinsuji. The boshi is yakitsume with hakikake.

Characteristics: Although the blade is suriage and machi-okuri, it retains a normal width and thickness with shallow curvature. It is a well-forged masame-hada, with an active and lively hamon reminiscent of Kunikane Nidai. However, the Token Hakubutsukan (Sword Museum) has attributed it to Genjirō Kunikane. While both the second and third generations used the name Genjirō Kunikane, the style suggests this work is most likely by the third generation.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Iron with sukashi (openwork) design.
Fuchi-Kashira: Shakudō nanako ground with plant motifs decorated in gold iroe.
Saya: Aogai chirashi (scattered mother-of-pearl lacquer).
Menuki: Cross-shaped spear and centipede, in gold iroe.

Comment from Aoi Art: Oshu Sendai ju Kunikane was a master of masame-hada, and from the first generation until the end of the Edo period, the Sendai Kunikane lineage continued to produce masame-hada works. This blade bears the signature “Oshu Sendai ju (partially cut) (Genjirō Kunikane)” and is regarded as the work of the third generation. Masame-hada is extremely difficult to produce. Among kotō smiths, Yasuyuki (Hōshō) was famed as the master of masame, and later generations attempted this style with varying success.

During the Edo period, Kunikane of Sendai studied under Echū no Kami Masatoshi in Kyoto on the order of Date Masamune, returning to Sendai in Genna 5 (1619). In Kan’ei 3 (1626), he was granted the title Yamashiro Daijō. While one might expect him to adopt the Sōshū-den style of Masatoshi, Kunikane instead revived the Kunika family tradition of Yamato-den Hōshō masame-hada. The first generation passed away in Kanbun 4 (1664) at the age of 73. Genjirō Kunikane, following in his father’s footsteps, continued the Yamato-den tradition rooted in Hōshō. This blade is a representative example, with an appearance reminiscent of older works. The hamon displays deep nioiguchi, forms nijūba, and ends in yakitsume, with soft yet highly active activity along the ha.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art Certificate: Full Oshigata