Katana: Biyo
Osafune Ju
Yokoyama Sukekane Saku
Tomonari
Go-ju-hachi Dai Mago
Keio Ni Nen Ni Gatsu Hi
Jidai: Shinshinto
Bizen
Yokoyama School
SwordClassic
example of the Shinshinto Yokoyama Bizen group. Because the work
is
composed of beautiful Kobushigata choji-ba, many times these
blades are
mistaken for works of Naka Kawachi Kunisuke. However, if one
notices the
structure of the jigane, one should notice both the extremely
tight
ko-mokume hada, but yet noticing the presence of very apparent
O-hada
in the pattern.
These
characteristics plus the fact of the “youngness” of the hamon,
should
lead you to the Shinshinto time period in your answer. After
arriving at
the fact that the sword is indeed Shinshinto, the hamon style
itself
should lead you to the Yokoyama Bizen School, then to either
Sukenaga or
Sukekane. Also, please notice the presence of the “Osaka Style”
Yakidashi, which should automatically put you to either the Shinto
or
Shinshinto Tokuden
Yokoyama Sukekane was the adopted son of Yokoyama Sukemori,
and was
trained by the famous Yokoyama Sukenaga of the Shinshinto Bizen
School.
Sukenaga inscribed on the tang of his swords “ Tomonari
GojuRoku-Dai
Mago” meaning that he was the 56th generation
descendent of
the Tomonari Bizen tradition. Sukekane followed in this tradition
by
inscribing that he was the 58th
generation of the line. The first generation of Sukekane is
rated
as “Chujo-saku” and is well accepted in the world of collectors
due to
the fact of the beautiful Choji midare that he reproduced so well.
Suguha
is also seen from this Toko, and is similar in the style from the
Oei-Mid
Muromachi jidai. The second generation Sukekane is listed as a
“chu-saku” class smith and carried on the tradition until the
banning
of wearing the sword edict came into effect during the early Meiji
jidai.
