Tairyusai Sokan (Soukan) was
a well regarded sword smith from the School of Koyama Munetsugu.
Sokan which can be read as Munehiro, is the top student of Munetsugu
and there are Juyo Token by him. He is ranked as Jo-saku and is
famous as one of the few smiths from the Shinshinto period for reproducing
utsuri. He is also known for his sharpness, and there are many examples
with tameshimei. His swords are well shaped as well as extremely
well forged. As with this example that we have for sale , this sword
is made in a very well knit ko-itame with utsuri. The hamon is a
nice gunome choji midare with ashi. Bohi and sohi are expertly carved
and give the sword an excellent balance. The boshi is very full
and done in the style of midare with jizo. Some say that his swords
are made just as well as his teacher, sometimes even surpassing
Munetsugu's quality. This sword is flawless, in an extremely beautiful
sashikomi polish by a mukansa polisher in Japan. Very well done gold foil habaki. Accompanied
with a new shirasaya, with sayagaki by Tanobe sensei of the NBTHK, and NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon. |