AS25167 Katana:Unju Nobukazu Saku Bunkyū 3 Nen 2 Gatsu Hi (February 1863) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Ordering number:AS25167

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Signature: Unju Nobukazu Saku
Bunkyū 3 Nen 2 Gatsu Hi (February 1863)
運寿信一作
文久三年二月日

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Unju Nobukazu.
Habaki: Gold foil single-layered habaki
Blade Length: 75.5 cm (29.72 in)
Curvature: 1.5 cm (0.59 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.34 cm (1.31 in)
Width at Tip: 2.15 cm (0.85 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.94 cm (0.37 in)
Sword Weight: 1075 grams
Era: Edo period, around the Bunkyū era
Shape: The blade has a wide body with a long tempered area and remains in healthy condition.
It is long in length, with deep curvature and an extended kissaki.
The sword is notably heavy, weighing 1075 grams.
Jigane: Well-forged with visible hada and a nicely formed nie-deki.
Hamon: Nie-deki style with a mixture of gunome-midare and choji-midare.
Fine kinsuji runs actively within the blade.

Features: This work comes from the Unju Nobukazu school and closely resembles the works of the master Unju Korekazu himself.
Especially notable is the long and slender kinsuji and the actively undulating gunome-midare hamon.

Aoi Art’s Comment:　This is a heavy piece with a long tempered area and well-rounded niku , giving it a healthy appearance like a clamshell surface.
It is a rare item and highly recommended.
This piece is in no way inferior to those made by his master, Unju Korekazu.

Historical Context:This sword was made in the late Edo period during the time of civil conflict between the imperial loyalists and the Tokugawa shogunate.
The date inscribed corresponds to March 19, 1863.
During this time, on August 18, 1863, the so-called “August 18 Coup” occurred at the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Komei, along with Prince Nakagawa (Seiren-in no Miya, Prince Asahiko, and Prince Kayo), orchestrated a purge with the support of the Satsuma and Aizu domains.
This resulted in the expulsion of the Choshu domain and radical court nobles such as Sanjo Sanetomi, who had been pushing for immediate expulsion of foreigners from Kyoto.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token Certificate
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper with whole oshigata