AS20517-Wakizashi: Yasuoki

Wakizaashi in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature :　Yasuoki(Yasukuni sword)
Showa 19nen 10 gatusu kichijitsu

Explanation: Yasuaki made this sword on lucky day October 1944.

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to the Jyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki :　Copper single habaki.(Yasukuni Gunto Habaki)
Blade length : 58.2cm or 22.91 inches.
Sori : 1.515 cm or 0.59 inches.
Mekugi: 1
Width at the hamachi: 2.88 cm or 1.13 inches.
Width at the Kissaki: 1.99 cm or 0.78 inches.
Kasane : 0.72cm or 0.28 inches.
The weight of the sword 530 grams.
Era: world war 2. time.
Shape: Regular width and thickness Wakizashi with rather large Sori. longer Kissaki.
Jigane: Ko Itame Hada well grained with Jinie attach. The Jigane is beautiful.
Hamon : Nie Deki, Gunome Midare and Choji Midare with many Ashi. Boshi is Midarekomi and round shape.

Special feature: Yasuoki made swords in the Yasukuni shrine during the War. He was born on February 1st, 1916.
His real name is Shimazaki Naoki. He joined the Token Tanrenkai in 1935. He studied under Kajiyama Tokunori.
In 1940, he was given the name Yasuoki by the Minister of the Army, Hata Shun.
In 1944, He received the Chairman’s Award at the 2nd Army Gunto Exhibition. And also he received Doryokusho Award, Yushusho Award, and Nyusen priz at the Shinsaku Meito Ten Exhibition after the war.
It is said that the swords produced during the war are 8100 pieces, but they are rarely seen.

From Aoi Art: When I was around 30 years old (50 years ago), I bring my Yasuoki’s Katana to one polisher’s home and ask him to polish it. But he said that he really wants to purchase my sword because he senses the potential. I did not understand what he said but he says he will purchase it at an expensive price, so I accepted it. After he purchases it, he polishes the blade, erases the Mei, and makes the sword looks like Suriage-Mumei, Then accepts the sword to NBTHK Shinsa. Surprisingly, the sword passed the Shinsa and was judged as the Kamakura period’s sword, even the Yasuoki sword just made around a few years ago from that day.
This sword is also made during the was, so just around 75 years ago, but it looks so old, too.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper
whole Oshigata.
※ One side of Hatome is missing