AS24607 Tanto:Mumei (Kikuchi Yari) 無銘（菊池槍) (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering Number: AS24607

Tanto in Shirasaya with Naval Officer’s Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Kikuchi Yari)
無銘（菊池槍)

(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 works attributed to Mumei (Kikuchi Yari).
Habaki: Iwagané (rock-pattern) habaki.
Blade Length: 26.3 cm (10.35 in).
Curvature: None.
Mekugi Hole: 1.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.15 cm (0.85 in).
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 1.14 cm (0.45 in).
Era: Nanbokucho period.
Shape: A thick-bladed example known as a Kikuchi Yari.
Jigane: Well-forged itame hada with clearly visible grain and utsuri.
Hamon: Nie-deki suguha, becoming notare toward the tip and mixed with gunome-midare.

Features: The Kikuchi Yari was produced by the Enju School of Higo Province (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture) and is also known as the Kikuchi Senbon Yari. This example has a blade length of 26.3 cm (10.35 in) and was likely carried by a commanding officer. Shorter examples of approximately 6 sun were generally carried by ordinary samurai. The Kikuchi Yari is characterized by its unokubi-zukuri shape without a yokote, narrow blade width, and exceptionally thick kasane. The blade exhibits utsuri and is considered to date from the Nanbokucho period. Signed examples are extremely rare.

This particular blade was mounted in an original Imperial Japanese Navy officer’s koshirae, having belonged to a high-ranking naval officer during the Second World War. It is believed that, when departing for military service, the officer mounted an old family Kikuchi Yari in this military mounting. As is well known, many officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy lost their lives at sea during the war. It is possible that the original owner of this blade was among the fortunate survivors. This is an exceptionally rare and highly recommended example.

Koshirae: Imperial Japanese Navy mounting for a flag-rank officer’s tanto.

NBTHK Hozon Token.
AoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.
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