AS09110 Wakizashi:Kato Banzai Tsunatoshi Bunsei 5 Nen 10 Gatsu (October, 1822)(NBTHK Hozon Token)(Kozuka & Kogai: NBTHK Hozon Tosogu)

Orcering number:AS09110

Wakizashi in Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)
Kozuka & Kogai: NBTHK Hozon Tosogu

Signature: Kato Banzai Tsunatoshi
Bunsei 5 Nen 10 Gatsu (October, 1822)
加藤万歳綱俊
文政五年十月日

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This sword is ranked as Jyo Saku among works by Kato Banzai Tsunatoshi.
Habaki: Single gold-colored Habaki
Blade Length: 1 shaku 2 sun 1.5 bu – approx. 36.8 cm (14.49 in)
Curvature: 0 cm (no curvature)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.37 cm (0.93 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.62 cm (0.64 in)
Thickness (Kasane): 0.54 cm (0.21 in)
Blade Weight: 195 g
Era: Late Edo period – Bunsei 5 (1822)
Shape:A slender, elegant, and compact wakizashi.
Jigane:Well-forged ko-itame hada (fine wood grain pattern).
Hamon:Nie-deki with a straight temper line (suguha).

Features:　Chounsai Tsunatoshi was born in Kansei 10 (1798), the third son of Izumi no Kami Kunihide and a swordsmith of the Yamagata domain.
He was the younger brother of Kato Tsunehide, known for his mastery of the tōranba hamon.
His home province was Dewa, and he served under the Uesugi family of the Yonezawa domain.
He was also known as Kato Hachiro and sometimes signed as Koretoshi.
He studied under Suishinshi Masahide and took the art name “Choun-sai” (長運斎).
Later, he moved to Edo and then Osaka, studying under Suzuki Harukuni, and eventually traveled through the western provinces, settling in Kumamoto.
In Ansei 3 (1856), he passed on the name “Choun-sai” to his son Koretoshi (2nd generation Tsunatoshi) and changed his own name to “Chouju-sai” (長寿斎).
From around Bunsei 6 (1823), he lived in the Uesugi family’s Edo residence in Azabu.
He passed away in Bunkyū 3 (1863) at age 66.

Koshirae: Aikuchi style koshirae
(Kozuka and Kogai with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu, unsigned [Kyō Kanagu-shi])
Fuchikashira: With gold-colored decoration
Saya: Black lacquered sendan-kizami (multi-grooved) saya
Menuki: Cherry blossom motif with gold iroe
Kogai: Shakudo nanako ground with high-relief carving of lion, gold inlay
Kozuka: Shakudo nanako ground with high-relief carving of lion, gold inlay
Kogatana: Included

NBTHK Hozon Token
NBTHK Hozon Tosogu (Kozuka & Kogai)
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata