AS25197 Wakizashi:Kazusa Kami Fujiwara Munemichi Echizen Ju(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25197

Wakizashi: Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Mei (Signature): Kazusa Kami Fujiwara Munemichi
Echizen Ju
上総守藤原宗道
越前住

Shinto, Upper-grade Smith: Echizen
We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku.
Habaki: Plain copper habaki
Blade Length: 45.7 cm (17.99 in)
Curvature: 1.0 cm (0.39 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.2 cm (1.26 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.4 cm (0.55 in)
Thickness of Rim (Kasane): 0.7 cm (0.28 in)
Sword Weight: 475 grams
Era: Middle to late Edo period.
Shape:The blade has a wide mihaba, thick kasane, shallow curvature, and an extended kissaki, creating a well-balanced and graceful appearance.
Jigane:Ko-itame hada with a dark tone.
Hamon:Near the hamachi, it begins with suguha, transitioning into an irregular gunome-midare.
It develops into large gunome-midare, with a midarekomi boshi that turns back in a rounded manner.
Sunagashi and kinsuji are actively present, forming a gorgeous hamon with double and triple layers.

Features: Kazusa no Kami Fujiwara Munemichi, also known as Sugaya Kurouemon, was a mid-level swordsmith of Echizen.
His early name was Muneji.
He lived in Shimosaka, Echizen province.
Though considered a middle-tier smith in Echizen, his hamon often features active sunagashi and kinsuji.
His jigane tends to be a mixture of masame and itame hada, which enhances the presence of sunagashi and kinsuji, resulting in a hamon full of variety and activity.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Mokko-gata shaped tsuba made of shibuichi.
Fuchikashira: Plain copper base with decorative patterns.
Saya: Black lacquered saya with fine horizontal carved lines (sendan-kizami), fitted with kojiri.
Menuki: Made of shakudo, engraved with characters “国報” and “心示” with gold and silver iroe inlay.
Kozuka: Shibuichi base, carved with human figures and partially decorated with gold iroe.Signed: Haruchika
Comes with a kogatana.

Aoi Art’s Comment: Kazusa no Kami Fujiwara Munemichi was an Echizen swordsmith whose jigane tends to show a mix of masame and itame patterns.
As a result, the blade often displays abundant sunagashi and active kinsuji, producing a lively and expressive hamon with rich variation.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art Estimation Paper: Whole Oshigata