A tachi registered as Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword] | Attributed to Niji Kunitoshi (born in 1240) | Kamakura period, 13th century

A tachi registered as Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword]

Attributed to Niji Kunitoshi (born in 1240)

Kamakura period, 13^th century  

Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, iori mune, rather wide mihaba, high curvature, with wa-zori (naka-zori), chu-kissaki becoming inokubi style

Kitae [forging pattern]: elegant tight itame-hada with thick ji-nie, fine chikei appearing, pronounced nie utsuri, steel is bright and clear

Hamon [tempering pattern]: a mixture of mainly shallow notare and ko-choji with ko-gonome in a wide suguha tone, abundant ashi and yo, with wide nioi and thick ko-nie, a slight bit of sunagashi applied, with kinsuji, nioi-guchi is bright and clear, and shows a slight mistiness only at the edge of the machi

Boshi [tip]: midare-komi, becoming yakizume style

Horimono [carvings]: bohi and renbi are kakinagasu on the omote and ura

Nakago [tang]: ubu (tip is pinched), saki is kiri, very slight curvature, yasurime is katte-sagari, one mekugi-ana, unsigned

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] with sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 74.2 cm., 29¼ in.

Sori [curvature]: 2.7 cm., 1 in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 1.9 cm., ¾ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.6 cm., 1 in.

Kissaki length: 2.8 cm., 1⅛ in.

Nakago length: 16.4 cm., 6½ in.

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword], no. 897 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 18 (2006).

Accompanied by an earlier certificate of registration when the blade was first designated Juyo Token [Important Sword], no. 2895 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 16 (2004).

The lot is also accompanied with an additional shirasaya, fitted wood storage box and a woodblock print, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861), depicting Imagawa Yoshimoto (the name changed to Inagawa Jibu-no-tayu Minamoto no Yoshimoto due to censorship on the portrayal of historical figures), from the series Heroes of the Grand Pacification (Taiheiki), signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga (Pictured by Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi), and with artist’s paulownia seal, censor’s seals Mera and Murata, published by Yamamoto Heikichi (Eikyudo), circa 1848-50; two further woodblock prints. 

The sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro has been translated as:

For the Fiftieth Juyo Token [Important Sword] Examination

The 'Two-Character' Kunitoshi from Joshu Province

This is an ubu nakago mei. This is magnificent, and moreover, beautiful, and remarkably shows the characteristic of this same smith. The workmanship is exceedingly excellent, and the ji and ha are healthy. As would be expected, this is precious.

Edge length (hacho) is two shaku, four sun and five bu.

I am pleased to say that this katana is being preserved by Paul Davidson, the President of the American Branch of the NBTHK.

Dated early March 2005, the Year of the Wood Rooster according to 22nd term of the sexagenary cycle.

Respectfully inspected and confirmed by Tanzan and kao [cursive monogram].