Wakizashi - Mumei(No Signature) - NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate(Yoshikuni) - Uchigatana Koshirae - Ubu Nakago - Shinto Era - Fukuoka 107668

An unsigned wakizashi with a Shinobue-style lacquered scabbard has arrived.

The blade is in excellent condition, polished to an antique finish with minimal flaws or rust. The jigane features a nashi-ji (pear skin) texture with mixed ko-tame and komokume patterns, and yubashiri is also visible. The hamon is a slightly moist, straight-line nioi-kuchi pattern. A forging mark about 1 cm wide is visible on the sasio-mote side, approximately 16 cm from the hamachi.

Although this is an unsigned wakizashi, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords certified it in April 1969 as being forged by Onizuka Yoshikuni and issued a Tokubetsu Kicho certificate of appraisal.

The first Yoshikuni was a renowned swordsmith representing the Shinto period, active in Chikugo (present-day southern Fukuoka Prefecture) during the early Edo period, from the Kan'ei to Kanbun eras, producing many outstanding works. Born in Tanagura, Mutsu Province (present-day Tanagura Town, Fukushima Prefecture), records indicate he moved from Tanagura to the castle town of Yanagawa in Chikugo Province (present-day Honjo-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture) through the mediation of Yubu Iki-no-kami, a senior retainer of Tachibana Muneshige, and began forging swords there. His works were renowned for their exceptional sharpness.

An anecdote spread about Mito Mitsukuni, who served as Deputy Shogun, using a Yoshikuni katana to execute a wicked monk and being astonished by its incredible cutting power. This led to his blades being highly valued for their sharpness even then, making him a popular swordsmith.

The koshirae features beautiful fittings with patterns representative of the Shinto period, while the scabbard finish is applied in the style of a shinobue (traditional Japanese wooden flute). This wakizashi, equipped with exceptional cutting power and beautiful fittings, offers both practical use and aesthetic enjoyment.

It comes with a certificate of authenticity and is available at a bargain price from Tozando. Don't miss out!

• Blade length: 51.5 cm
• Curvature: 1.5 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 1
• Sakihaba: 21.8 mm
• Sakikasane: 5.1 mm
• Motohaba: 29.5 mm
• Motokasane: 6.7 mm
• Signature: No signature
• Era: Shinto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jigane: Nashiji
• Hamon: Suguha
• Boshi: Massugu Haitte Komaru ni Kaeru
• Weight: 550 g(blade only)/820 g(without Saya)
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Koshirae: Black silk Tsuka wrap/Shinobue Saya lacquer
• Original Registration No.: Fukuoka 107668

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