Bizen Yoshimitsu Tachi

KK0512

An ubu tachi signed, Bishu Osafune Yoshimitsu, and dated Onin ni nen hachi gatsu hi (a day in August 1468).  Hawatare:  2 shaku 0 sun 4 bu (61.82 cm / 24.34").  Motohaba:  3.38 cm.  Sakihaba:  2.3cm.  Kasane:  7.3 mm. Gunome choji, ko-midare, tobi yaki, ashi iri, sunagashi, nado. Itame with utsure.  Rated Josaku in  Nihon Toko Jiten - Koto Hen, by Fujishiro; valued at  4,500,000 yen in Toko Taikan, by Tokuno, with a sharpness rating of Wazamono; NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon; Sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro.  As of 2000, there were three juyo by Yoshimitsu, two with the second generation's title and one without that of the first generation.  

Austere, high quality samurai koshirae.  Black lacquer saya, iron Higo fuchi-kashira, leather tsukamaki, and a very good nerikawa tsuba.

During the Sengoku period (country at war),  Bizen school  generally made 3 section of swords, Zokumyo style, which is the most nice quality blade, regular sword, and mass productive items.   However, Yoshimitsu (長船賀光) is different, he didn’t make Zokumyo style sword, he made two differing grades of swords, very fine swords that were generally custom orders, and course swords for general battlefield use.   Generally, but not always, the custom blades included his title.  Though even examples of his regular signature, there are high ranking swords.   This piece was made during the Onin war (14467-1477).       $8,500

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Utsure and shallow tate ware

Lacquered leather tsuba

Tsuka with plain iron Higo fuchi-kashira

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Sayagaki by Tanobe Michhiro

Toko Taikan

Nihonto Jiten-Koto Hen

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