Evaluating a Ko-Mihara Juyo

[Lewis B]

3 hours ago, Sukaira said:

Thanks to everyone who contributed in here. As a final update, after carefully considering everything said here, I have put in an order for a different blade that I have been eyeing for a while.

 

A Gorozaemon-no-jo Kiyomitsu masterpiece, fully signed, dated (1537) and ubu, with all the workmanship and style I was looking for.
 

@Scogg and @Hoshi special thanks for your posts.

I'm guessing its this one. Nice choice and looks very healthy. What was it about this blade that tipped it for you vs the other 2. A Tanobe sensei sayagaki would be the cherry on the top. 

 

https://world-seiyudo.com/product/ka-060123/

[ROKUJURO]

MOTO KASANE 8,7 mm! Wow, that is heathy!

Nice sword!

[PNSSHOGUN]

It's certainly a nice sword but at this point you could have very nice swords at the Juyo level that also include original Koshirae and provenance. Sue Bizen Kiyomitsu does not jump at out most people for that money. 

[Jacques]

On 10/25/2025 at 1:06 PM, ROKUJURO said:

Jacques,

don't look so much at the possibly lacking competence of others! I know you are very knowledgeable in this field, so your opinion might be especially valuable to us! 

Thank you, but I never give an opinion without having held the sword in question in my hand. I ad  I'm not an expert, just what you might call an informed amateur.

Edited Monday at 12:40 PM by Jacques

[Rawa]

2 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

It's certainly a nice sword but at this point you could have very nice swords at the Juyo level that also include original Koshirae and provenance. Sue Bizen Kiyomitsu does not jump at out most people for that money. 

He can always submit to shinsa. Great fat sword. Blade was made with Futasuji-hi [double bohi] in mind. That’s why blade have this motokasane.

Edited Monday at 02:27 PM by Rawa

[Sukaira]

43 minutes ago, Rawa said:

He can always submit to shinsa. Great fat sword. Blade was made with Futasuji-hi [double bohi] in mind. That’s why blade have this motokasane.

If I ever introduce this sword to anyone, I am stealing that phrase - Great fat sword! 

[Sukaira]

6 hours ago, Lewis B said:

I'm guessing its this one. Nice choice and looks very healthy. What was it about this blade that tipped it for you vs the other 2. A Tanobe sensei sayagaki would be the cherry on the top. 

 

https://world-seiyudo.com/product/ka-060123/

It really just checks all the boxes for me and I had been looking at it for a while but was just searching for something cheaper. I had originally been pretty close to buying this a while back https://www.aoijapan.com/katanamumeiunsigned-attributed-to-den-nakajima-rai-中島来the-17th-juyo-tokenmenukinbthk-hozon-tosogu/ 

 

I stopped however once I found out it has a big patch of umegane on the ji (not in the description but look on the image and you can see it, confirmed by Aoi Art). But I really enjoyed the sugata combined with the double hi, not to mention the Rai workmanship of this one. That lead me to look around for other swords with a similar style and I am a huge fan of Bizen (my favorite tradition) history, workmanship and style in general.

 

I had kind of written this one off a bit because of the price, but it really has it all for me. Warring period, Bizen, uroi, utsuri, ubu, long signature, dated, healthy. I find the warring period Bizen swords especially interesting for a few reasons. You do see the Sue-Bizen description thrown around as undesirable by many, but this is mainly because of the overall average of work during this period and the writings about such. It is true, however multiple things can be true at once, and a key thing to remember, as evidenced by the rare masterpieces crafted during this time, is that the smiths did not "forget" how to produce swords with uroi, utsuri, they just weren't doing it for the most part. I am guessing due to time and material constraints combined with needs of the times and other things that have been mentioned in this forum. These were still essentially unbroken traditions and lineages of smiths before the destruction of Osafune. So when I see a Bizen masterpiece come out of that historically important and bloody time, it has always peaked my interest.

 

I have a sword signed only Bishu Osafune Sukesada, but it is one of my favorite pieces in the collection and is overall one of the most interesting and beautiful Bizen pieces I've held, largely due to the (imo) insanely beautiful sashikomi polish on it. It is like the sun behind clouds.

[Sukaira]

4 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

It's certainly a nice sword but at this point you could have very nice swords at the Juyo level that also include original Koshirae and provenance. Sue Bizen Kiyomitsu does not jump at out most people for that money. 

I would be interested to see which ones if you could post some, that are koto and not mumei o-suriage. Original koshirae if we are talking koto seems questionable to me, but would love to see!

[Lewis B]

The Kiyomitsu will be a worthy addition to the collection. Are you planning to submit it for Juyo? Might be worth letting someone like Tanobe take a look and give his thoughts. 

I can see the ugly umegane on the Nakajima Rai blade. It has a powerful sugata and old NBTHK Juyo papers. Shame. 

[Sukaira]

50 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

The Kiyomitsu will be a worthy addition to the collection. Are you planning to submit it for Juyo? Might be worth letting someone like Tanobe take a look and give his thoughts. 

I can see the ugly umegane on the Nakajima Rai blade. It has a powerful sugata and old NBTHK Juyo papers. Shame. 

I think your suggestion for the Tanobe sayagaki is a must do! I will ask them to facilitate this. As for Juyo I am definitely tempted...any thoughts on if I should or even how long the blade would be held for (and out of my hands )?

[Lewis B]

Juyo shinsa happens once a year in October. If it fails it'll likely be released towards end of the year. If it passes you have to wait for the papers and oshigata to be completed. You won't see it again until early 2027. Obviously worth the wait in the latter instant

[Natichu]

11 hours ago, Sukaira said:

 

I had kind of written this one off a bit because of the price, but have a sword signed only Bishu Osafune Sukesada, but it is one of my favorite pieces in the collection and is overall one of the most interesting and beautiful Bizen pieces I've held, largely due to the (imo) insanely beautiful sashikomi polish on it. It is like the sun behind clouds.

Now that is quite the stunning piece. Not to sidetrack from the original topic too much, but would you mind posting the measurements of the Sukesada? 

[Sukaira]

12 minutes ago, Natichu said:

Now that is quite the stunning piece. Not to sidetrack from the original topic too much, but would you mind posting the measurements of the Sukesada? 

Blade length(Cutting edge): 71.5cm
Curve(SORI): 2.5cm
Width at the hamachi(Moto-Haba): 3.22cm
Thickness at the Moto-Kasane: 0.77cm
Wide at the Kissaki(Saki-Haba): 2.55cm
Thickness at the Saki-Kasane:  0.60cm

[Gakusee]

12 hours ago, Lewis B said:

Juyo shinsa happens once a year in October. If it fails it'll likely be released towards end of the year. If it passes you have to wait for the papers and oshigata to be completed. You won't see it again until early 2027. Obviously worth the wait in the latter instant

 

It is true that papers and certificate etc take approximately nine months to a year but the blade itself could be out in 3-4 months (unless they choose it for the Juyo exhibition at the Nittoho, which happens in early 2026), depending on workload and numbers. But even if exhibited, one can have it before summer next year. 
It is an entirely different story how one will get it from point A in Japan to point B in a foreign country. 

[Jacques]

 

Quote

however once I found out it stoppedhas a big patch of umegane on the ji (not in the description but look on the image and you can see it, confirmed by Aoi Art)

Generally, when a swordsmith takes the trouble to make an umegane, which is not an easy thing to do, it is because the quality of the sword justifies it; otherwise, he destroys it and starts over.

[Sukaira]

I would have imagined that umegane patch was put on much later than the sword was made, but I could be wrong. I have also read pretty much everywhere that umegane is a pretty bad thing since it hides the real flaw and potentially creates a pocket of rust that is not reachable underneath, slowly eating your sword away.

Edited 13 hours ago by Sukaira

[Sukaira]

@Lewis B I was able to confirm with Seiyudo the Tanobe sayagaki will be done.

[Lewis B]

12 hours ago, Gakusee said:

 

It is true that papers and certificate etc take approximately nine months to a year but the blade itself could be out in 3-4 months (unless they choose it for the Juyo exhibition at the Nittoho, which happens in early 2026), depending on workload and numbers. But even if exhibited, one can have it before summer next year. 
It is an entirely different story how one will get it from point A in Japan to point B in a foreign country. 

I assume someone in Japan would act as an agent for submission, retrieval and subsequent relocation. Since Sky is buying from a big name dealer in Tokyo I would hope they would agree to provide that service (perhaps for a fee).

[Lewis B]

13 minutes ago, Sukaira said:

@Lewis B I was able to confirm with Seiyudo the Tanobe sayagaki will be done.

That great news. Make sure the dealer asks Tanobe sensei if it has a chance at Juyo and you can make an educated decision if it's worth being without the sword for a prolonged period. With the current shipping uncertainty and that the blade is currently in Japan I'd be more inclined to submit to Shinsa if Tanobe responds positively. 

[Sukaira]

21 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

That great news. Make sure the dealer asks Tanobe sensei if it has a chance at Juyo and you can make an educated decision if it's worth being without the sword for a prolonged period. With the current shipping uncertainty and that the blade is currently in Japan I'd be more inclined to submit to Shinsa if Tanobe responds positively. 

Good call! Will Tanobe sensei give an indication in regard to Juyo? I guess I am asking if it is a normal thing that he is alright with giving an opinion on?

Edited 11 hours ago by Sukaira

[Lewis B]

Well, it depends. He won't say in writing but the person who collects it after getting the sayagaki could ask for his opinion and, assuming he has a friendly relationship with the dealer, you should have a good idea where it stands. The sayagaki could also give you an indicator. If he writes it's a masterpiece amongst the work of the smith it's a good start. But obviously its not a sure thing. Recent Juyo Shinsa have been 'strange' to say the least.