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Lot Essay
ACCOMPANIED BY A TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN [SWORD ESPECIALLY WORTHY OF PRESERVING] CERTIFICATE NO. 140031 ISSUED BY THE NIHON BIJUTSU TOKEN HOZON KYOKAI [SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE JAPANESE ART SWORD] ON 14TH APRIL 1995, AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF A TOKUBETSU KICHO TOKEN [ESPECIALLY VALUABLE SWORD] CERTIFICATE NO. 5602940, ISSUED BY THE NIHON BIJUTSU TOKEN HOZON KYOKAI [SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE JAPANESE ART SWORD] ON 12TH NOVEMBER 1981.
THIS BLADE IS A MASTERPIECE OF SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE, THE FOUNDING GENIUS BEHIND THE FUKKO-TO [RESTORATION SWORD] MOVEMENT WHICH HERALDED THE ERA OF THE SHINSHINTO. THE INSCRIPTION SHOWS THAT THE YOUNGER SMITH MASAHIDE OF SATAKE IN USHU PROVINCE (PRESENT-DAY AKITA PREFECTURE) ASSISTED WITH HAMMERING DURING THE MAKING OF THE SWORD. THIS MASAHIDE (WHOSE NAME IS COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT CHARTACTERS FROM THAT OF SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE) LATER BECAME A PUPIL OF TAKEI NAOTANE, WHO HAD HIMSELF BEEN TAUGHT BY SUISHINAHI MASAHIDE, AND LATER TOOK A CHARACTER FROM NAOTANE'S NAME TO SIGN HIDETANE.
SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE HAS PUT A NUMBER OF INTERESTING TOUCHES INTO THE BLADE. THE RATHER HUMOROUSLY RENDERED CARVING OF THE NIO GUARDIAN IS SET IN A CARTOUCHE WITH AN ANGLED TOP, AND THE GROOVE ENDS PARALLEL WITH THAT ANGLE. THE GRANDIOSE OSAKA STYLE HAMON DROPS ABRUPTLY TO RUN PARALLEL WITH THE YOKOTE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE RISING INTO THE KYOTO STYLE SANPIN BOSHI, A CLEAR STATEMENT OF TECHNICAL COMPETENCE.
MASAHIDE OFTEN MADE DEEP HAMON AS WITH THIS BLADE DURING HIS EARLY CAREER, BUT BELIEVING THAT SUCH SWORDS WOULD BREAK EASILY, HE LATER CONCENTRATED ON NARROW HAMON, PARTICULARLY WITH HIS WORK IN BIZEN STYLE.
THIS BLADE IS A MASTERPIECE OF SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE, THE FOUNDING GENIUS BEHIND THE FUKKO-TO [RESTORATION SWORD] MOVEMENT WHICH HERALDED THE ERA OF THE SHINSHINTO. THE INSCRIPTION SHOWS THAT THE YOUNGER SMITH MASAHIDE OF SATAKE IN USHU PROVINCE (PRESENT-DAY AKITA PREFECTURE) ASSISTED WITH HAMMERING DURING THE MAKING OF THE SWORD. THIS MASAHIDE (WHOSE NAME IS COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT CHARTACTERS FROM THAT OF SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE) LATER BECAME A PUPIL OF TAKEI NAOTANE, WHO HAD HIMSELF BEEN TAUGHT BY SUISHINAHI MASAHIDE, AND LATER TOOK A CHARACTER FROM NAOTANE'S NAME TO SIGN HIDETANE.
SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE HAS PUT A NUMBER OF INTERESTING TOUCHES INTO THE BLADE. THE RATHER HUMOROUSLY RENDERED CARVING OF THE NIO GUARDIAN IS SET IN A CARTOUCHE WITH AN ANGLED TOP, AND THE GROOVE ENDS PARALLEL WITH THAT ANGLE. THE GRANDIOSE OSAKA STYLE HAMON DROPS ABRUPTLY TO RUN PARALLEL WITH THE YOKOTE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE RISING INTO THE KYOTO STYLE SANPIN BOSHI, A CLEAR STATEMENT OF TECHNICAL COMPETENCE.
MASAHIDE OFTEN MADE DEEP HAMON AS WITH THIS BLADE DURING HIS EARLY CAREER, BUT BELIEVING THAT SUCH SWORDS WOULD BREAK EASILY, HE LATER CONCENTRATED ON NARROW HAMON, PARTICULARLY WITH HIS WORK IN BIZEN STYLE.