Wakizashi : Hori Mikaduki Taikei Naotane (Kao)/Chichiwari-dotan-barai Yoshida Fumihira Bunka 5 early Autumn
2017/02/20
Wakizashi in Shirasaya(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper)
Signature : Hori Mikaduki Taikei Naotane (Kao)
Chichiwari-dotan-barai Yoshida Fumihira Bunka 5 early Autumn.
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku, Jyo saku and regular saku)
This Taikei Naotane belongs to Saijyo saku ranking.
Shinshinto : Saijyosaku : Musashi
The blade was polished.
Blade length : 48.5 cm or 19.09 inches.
Sori : 0.5 cm or 0.19 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the hamachi : 3.36 cm or 1.32 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.80 cm or 1.10 inches.
Kasane : 0.62 cm or 0.24 inches.
Era : Late Edo period. Bunka 1804-1818.
Shape : The wakizashi is wide 3.36 cm and thick with regular sori with Okissaki
Jitetsu : Itame Hada well grained with spiral pattern.
Hamon : Nie Deki, suguha with deep nioikuchi, the habuchi is soft end.
Special feature : Naotane, born Shoji Minobei in 1778 or 1779 at Yamagata in Dewa province,
considering from his title Taikei used at a later date, his birthday is possibly 15th July,
went to Edo and become a pupil of Suishinshi Masahide.
The Akimoto family in Yamagata province retained Naotane around 1812.
Naotane got the title Chikuzen-Daijo in 1821and stepped up to the Mino (No) Kami in 1848.
As building up a solid reputation, he got many invitations to forge sword in various places.
He added the name of place to inscribe the signature.
Naotane passed away in 1857, aged 79.
Naotane could make a variety of styles: Bizen-den, Soshu-den, Yamashiro-den and Yamato-den.
He was good at Bizen-den and Soshu-den in particular.
His swords are ranked at the highest rank called Saijo-saku in the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Especially his swords forged in the Tempo era (1830 to 1844) called Tempo-uchi are highly appreciated as his best examples attained maturity.
Naotane forged this katana to Kuroda Kuniyoshi.
Historical background: Bunka 5 (1808) Mamiya Rinzo found Mamiya Kaikyo while exploring Sakhalin.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.
Price : JPY 1,500,000-.
