Looking for Ko Mihara, Hokke, Kongo Hyoe, Sue bizen

[eternal_newbie]

Another Ko-mihara popped up, with a somewhat rare sugata (shobu zukuri/naginata naoshi) for this school: https://eirakudo.shop/794977

[Sukaira]

Was just about to post that ^

[klee]

There s several good recent listings im looking into . Wish i could have them all 😅

 

There s am Aoi Norimitsu and  a Kiyomitsu attributed to Magoemon that just came up on samurai nippon that I sent a message about. Hope they get back to me today. I never liked how little photos samurai nippon posts on their listing

[Sukaira]

Moses just put up a nice one here: https://nihontoantiques.com/project/bishu-osafune-sukesada-fss-988/  

[Lewis B]

On 5/13/2026 at 4:37 PM, eternal_newbie said:

Another Ko-mihara popped up, with a somewhat rare sugata (shobu zukuri/naginata naoshi) for this school: https://eirakudo.shop/794977

Someone made a very smart decision. Well priced for what was being offered.

Edited May 15 by Lewis B

[Sukaira]

That was quick - @klee was that you?

[klee]

@Sukaira

 

Nah not me 😆 beautiful steel but the shape isnt what im looking for 

[Lewis B]

Can anyone confirm it had a solid gold habaki? Appears so given the colour of the core. At todays prices the scrap value alone in the habaki would be worth several thousand $, assuming its gold and not a yellow metal like brass. 

 

Edited May 16 by Lewis B

[eternal_newbie]

1 hour ago, Lewis B said:

Can anyone confirm it had a solid gold habaki?

 

Two-layered gold plated habaki according to the listing. If so, it's very well-done, covering the base where you'd usually see the core - or Eirakudo got it wrong.

[eternal_newbie]

Specifically, they use the term 金色絵 (kin-iroe) which refers to a number of different techniques used to apply gold to a surface: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/668-term/#findComment-4987

 

[klee]

I believe I ve finally settled on a sue bizen piece that came up on Samurai nippon . Messaged Komaki san and waiting for an invoice.

 

https://www.samurai-nippon.net/SHOP/Q-325.html

 

Bizen koku ju osafune Kiyomitsu Saku

(Attributed to Magoemon Kiyomitsu )

 

Unfortunate that part of the date in missing but I think the attribution to Magoemon more than makes up for it and narrows down the production date.

 

And a good length just over 71cm and a massive .88cm motokasane

 

Dont really see any red flags but perhaps someone more experienced may catch something I missed

Edited May 19 by klee

[Sukaira]

Looks really good and the attribution is awesome. Nakago seems very well cared for and even though the pictures are not super high res, there seems to be great activity around the habuchi. Chikei for sure, maybe some hotsure and ashi? Super interesting suguha base though. Kiyomitsu seems to be in your destiny 

[klee]

@Sukaira

 

Yea i ve accepted that I ll always have a Kiyomitsu 😆

 

And yes a lot of intense chikei and kinsuji. 

[jawob]

Nice grab! I've enjoyed watching your hunt

[klee]

Thank you @jawob 🙏

 

I cant believe how much attention this thread got .

 

Very thankful of everyone who chipped in to help. I truly appreciate it and It made the process a lot more fun 

[klee]

Now I would love to know why a portion of the date would be erased in such a way. It loooks to be done a long time ago with care.

[Sukaira]

It does seem mysterious since it doesn’t look damaged at all. Maybe someone can chime in. I really like the sword though, boshi is super healthy also.

[klee]

@Sukaira

 

Do you have a close up images of the hamon and jigane of your Gorozaemon ?

 

I know that Magoemon followed his father/master s style very closely so id love to compare .  There must be something distinct in their workmanship for the NBTHK to attribute it to magoemon specifically 

[Sukaira]

@klee you can check out the high res on Seiyudo's site here: https://world-seiyudo.com/product/ka-060123/

The only other extra picture I have is the sayagaki (done post-purchase) attached:

"備前長船五郎左衛門尉清光

十五字ノ長銘並ビニ天文六年紀有之同工ハ清光ヲ名乗ル鍛冶中最モ上手デ次ヒデ孫右衛門尉がアリ
本作ハ其ノ真面目ナル静謐ナ直刃ヲ焼キ出来宜敷ク鍛錬モ秀デタリ長貳尺二寸三分強"

"Bizen Osafune Gorōzaemon no Jō Kiyomitsu

This blade bears a long fifteen-character signature together with the date Tenbun 6 (1537). Among the smiths using the name Kiyomitsu, he is regarded as the most accomplished, followed by Magouemon no Jō.

This work displays a sincere and tranquil suguha hamon. The workmanship is excellent, and the forging is particularly refined."

[Sukaira]

It is more of a hoso-suguha and has fine kinsuji running through, ashi and yo. Jigane is moist with chikei and the bo-utsuri can really give a blackish depth to the steel. Really intentional, quiet and beautiful and this is why Kiyomitsu is loved. I found out that Mori Motonari had Kiyomitsu forge his Jin Tachi for the Battle of Itsukushima.

Edited Saturday at 07:50 PM by Sukaira

[klee]

Thank you for the link and the sayagaki image @Sukaira !

 

Beautiful jigane and has everything I love about Kiyomitsu for sure. I really like that it has an unusualy thin suguha which showcases more of the jigane.

 

Looks like tanobe sensei liked the blade as well ! Komaki san from Samurai Nippon said he can request a sayagaki for my blade but the timing would depend on Tanobe Sensei s schedule. Waiting to hear back

[klee]

@Sukaira

 

Have you considred trying for juyo ?

 

There s a juyo Gorozarmon on Asahi token and I would think yours compares very well to this one. 

 

https://www.asahitoken.jp/contents/01_token/details/token-A/A_sd406.html

 

Personaly, I prefer the jigane on yours more than the juyo piece

[Sukaira]

@klee You should totally get that piece in front of Tanobe sensei. I think it's definitely worthwhile given that it is attributed to Magouemon but has a general school signature. It is always interesting to see what he says in these cases because he will usually elaborate the insights that were used to determine that. I have seen the sayagaki from a few Sukesada that were generically signed but attributed to Hikobei etc.

 

I have seen that Asahi one. It is hard to tell everything from images of course but it does seem to have more polish wear looking at the jigane. Less fumbari I think. The overall style looks way closer to yours though, at least to me. I really have not seen many swords signed or attributed to Gorozaemon or Magouemon. Maybe someone can chime in here, but they do seem to be pretty rare. I guess it makes sense though. Similarly, there are not many Hikobei and Yosozaemon, and Kiyomitsu was the other pillar of Sengoku Bizen. All that to say, I think they really are special.

 

As for Juyo, Seiyudo told me they think it is a Juyo candidate and I also agree. It's essentially flawless in every aspect and fully kenzen. If you really talk to Seiyudo though, I get the feeling they don't really care about Juyo. Whenever I ask them about submitting swords (theirs, mine, whoever's) the usual response is something like "they keep your sword for a long time, it might not pass, it's kind of a hassle". I have also thought about submitting (because I also have that TokuHo Naotane that Moses polished that I posted in the other channel, this one: https://eirakudo.shop/683712 - listed as Juyo candidate), but lately I kind of arrive at the same conclusion. I have 2 Juyo in my own collection, from sessions 12 (Yoshifusa) and 48 (Rai Kunimitsu) and after viewing a bunch of other Juyo and JuBi blades in hand on my last trip to Japan, I think I have a much deeper understanding of quality markers. Just one example of many: until you really are up close and personal with a deep, blazing sunset colored iridescent nioiguchi, you just won't know that is a thing. I think I care less about Juyo now that I have a deeper understanding of quality, but also being in the USA makes it even more of a hassle and a risk so that plays into it as well. At the price points my current swords are at, I would only fly them in and out personally . I am much more into the spiritual and historical aspect of swords than the art aspects.

Edited 22 hours ago by Sukaira