Tanto: Bishu Osafune Ju Kanemitsu
Jidai: Koto Nanbokucho
Dated Bunna San Nen 1354
This
sword
which is a classic example of how by mixing the Bizen tradition
with the
Soshu influence created the Soden Bizen style that became popular
during
the late Kamakura through the Nanbokucho era.
Bizen Kanemitsu,
being one of the famous Masamune “Juttetsu” or in English terms, one of
the famous 10 disciples of Soshu Masamune was originally from the line
of Osafune Kagemitsu. In Kanemitsu’s early works, we can easily see this
influence of the famous Kagemitsu “Kataouchi Gunome” hamon. After Kanemitsu
went to study under Masamune, he began to develop a mixture of Bizen den
now influenced by the Soshu den. Kanemitsu’s Bizen style usually resembled
Kagemitsu with exceptionally strong Bo-utsuri in the ji. There are however,
examples that exist that also show utsuri in the midare style as well.
However when Kanemitsu worked in the Soden Bizen style, the hamon was usually that of a notare with nie sprinkled throughout the ji with more prominent kinsuji as well. This tanto which has been used for today’s “Kantei” has all of the characteristics of Kanemitsu’s Soshu style influenced from Masamune. Please take care to note that the Boshi is slightly “flame” pointed and that the Ji is sprinkled with ji-nie as well as the fact that the Jigane is a little more coarse than those swords of the strictly Bizen tradition. Also, please note how bright the jigane is due to the fact of so much fine Ji-nie. This is a rare example of a Saijo-saku maker, as it also has the classic Kanemitsu style carving of a ken sword. For those of you that enjoy Koto swords this sword should be a very special treat !!!
This sword has been deemed genuine and is papered by the NBTHK in Japan.
