Sukaira

Just wanted to share some images for study that Keisuke over at https://www.katana-case-shi.com shared with me today during a chat. In the order from the title.

Good to know - thanks!

Commissioned a new sayagaki from Tanobe sensei. Looking for translation - thank you in advance.

@anguilla1980 That is a solid first pick up for Sukesada. Also I just wanted to share a close up of that Yosozaemon that @klee posted, because I also downloaded the original image You really don't see (or at least I have not) long Kinsuji running through the ha in Sue-Bizen pieces. Just proves the smiths had all the knowledge and skills, just not the time or resources (or maybe even just the reason) sometimes.

Juyo Token

@klee thanks! What Kyushu schools did you switch to? Hizen, Enju, Satsuma...something else?

That's true, could also be that. I asked Shono-san at Seiyudo and he says "Kakushitogane is a rare mark that swordsmiths use to confirm that they themselves made it" so maybe that clears it up?

That Yosozaemon was absolutely insane. I have 2 nice ones I can show from Bizen, Sengoku era. 1. Gorozaemon no Jo Kiyomitsu 1537 2. Bishu Osafune Sukesada 1567

All very possible reasons. Does anyone by chance know of anything similar from Naotane to compare to? Maybe it was something he did on other specific blades also? Maybe at the request of the customer? @PNSSHOGUN good question, this one is actually Soshu style, so yeah that would probably rule out Ichimonji @Natichu sure - check below.

I agree that hamon was a bit...different..but I am not really familiar with that smith. Maybe his style is off beat skinny vertical spikes with tobiyaki? Maybe they didn't want to bring out the good good stuff.

Wanted to share a Taikei Naotane that I recently acquired that has a secret engraving for "Ichimonji" on the bottom. Is anyone else familiar with this type of thing? Is there a specific reason(s) or is it just a total "this would be cool" kinda thing?

don't breath around the sword, but let me show how bendy it is

Yeah I am not sure what the standard is for Tanzan/Tanobe to do a sayagaki, but just as an example...I currently have 5 blades (2 Koto, 1 Shinto, 2 Shinshinto) in Japan right now getting sayagaki from Tanobe, plus 1 already here with me...so I would have to go with the higher numbers in the thousand(s)

Will check this out - thanks!

This was an interesting read!

Thanks for this! But doesn't this just say Kunihiro was a pupil of Umetada?

I was thinking about the importance of the Hizen school the other day and had the thought that perhaps the Hizen school could be considered in at least some way, the rebirth and continuation of Rai. This comes from the idea that Umetada Myōju counted himself as the direct 25th lineage of Sanjo Munechika and the idea that Tadayoshi settled on an overall signature forging style that pays homage to Rai. Plus the school delivers a very similar approach in terms of industry. Sanjo -> Awataguchi -> Rai -> ...? -> Umetada Myōju -> Hizen basically. The larger question I would like to know is who exactly was Umetada Myōju's teacher? Dude was super skilled and prolific but basically no record that I can find of his teacher...