AS21053 Katana:Mumei (Ko- Fujishima)

Ordering number: AS21053
Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae.(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature :　Mumei (Ko- Fujishima)
無銘（古藤島）　

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku, and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo Jyo Saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki:　Gold foiled double habaki.
length of the sword:72.5cm
Sori:1.88 m or 0.74inches
Mekugi:2
Width at the hamachi: 2.87 cm or 1.12inches.
Width at the Kissaki: 1.96 cm or 0.77inches.
Kasane : 0.55 cm or 0.21inches.
The weight of the sword:640 grams.
Era: The Nambokucho period, Embun/Teiji era.
Shape: Osuriage-Mumei, Bohi on both sides, the blade is normally thick and broad and has deeper Sori and longer Kissaki: beautifully made.
Jigane: Koitame-hada with Ohada and Shirake-utsuri. Jigane with a soft atmosphere.
Hamon: Koniedeki, Gunome-midare mixed with Choji-midare, Boshi gets Kubire and turns back round. Small Sunagashi and Kinsuji work in Hachu.

Special feature: Fujishima school was founded by a swordsmith around the Karyaku(1326) era, the late Kamakura period, and lasted to the middle Muromachi period. The founder was born in Echizen Fujishima and later became a pupil of Rai Kunitoshi, and moved to Kaga Ishikawa and founded his school. The second generation was in the Nambokucho period and the third generation at the early Muromachi period.

Koshirae :
Tsuba: Distorted round-shaped Tsuba, plum tree is engraved with gold color and openwork.
Fuchikashira: On polished Shakudo plate, autumn plants and wild duck are engraved with gold color.
Saya: Aogai-chirashi Saya.
Menuki: Crane and turtle are engraved with gold color.
Kozuka: Shakudo-ishimeji plate, pine tree and a crane dancing in front of the sunrise are engraved with gold color.
Kogai: Shakudo-ishimeji plate, pine tree and a crane dancing in front of the sunrise are engraved with gold color.

From Aoi Art: Apparently, it looks like Bizenmono, but the blackish Jigane with Gunome-midare mixed with Choji-midare reminds us of Kitaguni-mono, Utsuri is Shirake-utsuri: different from Hizen, the blade has deeper Sori and longer Kissaki: supposed to be made between the late Kamakura and Nambokucho period. Koshirae is well-made of Aogai-chirashi with good Kozuka and Kogai.

NBTHK Hozon Toke
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata.