AS24611 Katana:Yoshihara Kuniie Saku(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS24611

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Yoshihara Kuniie Saku
Kōki 2600 Nen Chūshū (Mid-Autumn 1940)
吉原國家作
皇紀二千六百年仲秋

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works by Yoshihara Kuniie.
Habaki: Double-layered silver-covered habaki
Blade Length: 69.2 cm (27.24 in)
Curvature: 1.8 cm (0.71 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.26 cm (1.28 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.18 cm (0.86 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.78 cm (0.31 in)
Sword Weight: 820 g
Era:Showa 40(1940)
Shape:A well-proportioned blade with wide width, thick kasane, and slightly deep curvature, featuring an extended kissaki.
The blade retains its original sharpness (ubuha), making it a very sound and healthy piece.
Jigane:Fine ko-itame hada that is well-forged and results in a refined, beautiful steel surface.
Hamon:A nie-deki gunome-midare with a deep nioiguchi.
Sunagashi activity can be observed between the peaks of the hamon.

Features: Yoshihara Kuniie was born in 1893 (Meiji 26) in Ibaraki Prefecture.
He entered the Nihontō Tanren Denshūjo in 1932 (Shōwa 7).
In 1938 (Shōwa 13), he was appointed as a smith for official military production and taught swordsmithing at the Itabashi Army Arsenal.
He was a student of Kasama Shigetsugu and had five disciples himself.
This Yoshihara Kuniie is the father of the present-day Kuniie.
The workmanship is excellent.
The blade features a gunome-chōji-midare hamon with a deep nioiguchi, showcasing the smith’s high level of skill.

Aoi Art’s Comment: I have never seen a work by Yoshihara Kuniie of such quality.
Knowing that he is the father of the present Kuniie adds even more emotional significance.
Blades inscribed with “Yoshihara Kuniie” and the era notation “Kōki 2600” are extremely rare and valuable.
The workmanship is also exceptional, so we highly recommend this piece.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Includes whole oshigata