AS24498 Katana: Oku Yamato Ason Motohira Kansei 10 Nen Aki(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper)

Ordering number : AS24498

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae. (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper)

Signature : Oku Yamato Ason Motohira
Kansei 10 Nen Aki
奧大和朝臣元平
寛政十年秋

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijo saku, Jojo saku, Jo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jojo saku ranking.
Habaki : Gold foiled single Habaki.
Blade length : 68.03 cm or 2.68 inches.
Sori : 1.97 cm or 0.78 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the Hamachi : 3.01 cm or 1.19 inches.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 1.84 cm (0.72 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.71 cm (0.28 in)
Weight:665grams
Era : Edo period Kanse era (1789~1801)
Shape : Wide thick tough blade with Bohi engraved on both sides of the blade the balance is excellent.
Jigane : Itame-hada well grained with Chikei work very active blackish wild but also clear feeling Jigane.
Hamon : Nie-deki deep Nioikuchi on Gunome, Togari Gunome mixed, Sunagashi Kinsuji Inazuma works well wild temperline.

Special feature : Satsuma Simazu clan patronaged many good sowrdsmiths. Motohira is one of most famous smith at Satsuma Shinshin-To ages. He was born at 1744 as son of Motonao. He learned sword forging techniques from his father and allowed to engrave ‘Satsuma Sin Oku Motohira’ at 1785. He got the title ‘Hokki Kami’ at 1789 and started to engrave his signature ‘Oku Yamato Kami Taira Asaomi Motohira’ from then.
Samurais of Satsuma Simazu clans were well known for their bravery.
They fought well at Hideyoshi’s Kyūshū Campaign and also at Sekigahara versus Tokugawa at Battle of Sekigahara even they have got defeated.
They never forgot disgrace and trained themselves well. At later Edo period, Shimazu clan leaded with Choshu to defeat Tokugawa Shogunate to win the civil war and the military Japan got modernized by them.
Satuma-Jigen ryu in Satuma, well known swordplay and the other schools seems to be effected to Motohira’s sword making style. The blade is simplicity and fortitude, optimized for use in battle field.
We recommend this blade for someone like Shimazu clan from their greatly and legendary flourishing.

Koshirae :
Saya : Black Roiro Sendan KIzami Saya.
Tsuba : Dragon and tidal waves engraved on Shakudo plate with gold color.
Fuchi Kashirta : Dragon and tidal waves carved on Shakudo Nanako plate with gold color.
Menuki : Catfish, which were believable to live underground to cause the earthquake in ancient Japan, carved on Shakudo plate with gold color.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.