Katana signed Tanba-no-kami YOSHIMICHI
Shinto Early Edo period (Kanbun era/circa 1661-72) Settsu (Osaka)
Length of cutting edge 70.9cm, Curvature 1.2cm, Width of base 30.2mm, Width of Yokote 19.3mm, Thickness of base 6.7mm
Blade construction: Long katana with shallow curvature of Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba on base is ordinary standing firmly on the base. Thickness of kasane is average. There is an appropriate difference in width between base and tip of Yokote leading to a middle Kissaki. The entire shape creates neat and smart impression which flourished during Kanbun - Enpo (1661-80) period .
Forging(Hada): Forging mark shows Itame wooden grain mixing with partial loosening ware of large Itame marks. Steel gives off the impression of Nie sparkling hard metal granules "Ji-nie" and darkish precise lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" activity that wells out from the steel.
Temper (Hamon): Hamon is fine Nie hard metal granules base, starting with shallow and long straight Yakidashi and flamboyant large Gunome, combined medium Gunome, Norare wave, Togari-ha outline where entire temper varies in shape. Some of quenching lines breaks splashing into Hiraji that generate "Tobiyaki" and "Yubashiri" activity. The interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area deeply with ASHI and floating YOU activities, thick lines of Nie SUNAGASHI and bright curved threadlike KINSEN areas. The quenching scene closely resembles like a river stream or a bamboo blind so called "Sudare-ha". The entire temper gives off extremely bright and vivid impression.
Temper of tip (Boshi): Temper of boshi forms straight with a bit of wave indication and small circle turning back in the so called "Mishina-style Boshi".
Tang (Nakago): The heel of Nakago is UBU original with one peg hole. V-shape heel with greatly slanting left (O-sujikai) filemarks, the back ridge of Nakago is flat with O-sujikai filemarks as well. The inscription on Hakiomote side is five charactar that starts from an official district title of Tanba-no-kami 丹波守 and the smith name YOSHIMICHI 吉道.
Tanba-no-kami YOSHIMICHI 丹波守吉道 in Settsu "Osaka-Tanba" of Mishina Kin'uemon 三品金右衛門 was born in Keicho 3 (1598) as the second son of the first generation Tanba-no-kami YOSHIMICHI in Kyoto "Kyo-Tanba". He studied under his master of "Kyo-Tanba" and enjoyed Tanba-no-kami" title during Shouho era (1644-47) to become indpendent of Osaya-Tanba branch in Settsu domain (now Osaka city). Smiths of Tanba-no-kami YOSHIMICHIs, both of Kyoto and Osaka flourished in generations with exclusive originality of "Sudare-ha" like a bamboo blind or "Kikusui-ha" like a chrysanthemum flower on a river stream. Altough both branches inscribe as Tanba-no-kami YOSHIMICHI 丹波守吉道, take a careful notice for the character of "kami" 守, the last stroke with "angle" is an essential pecurarity of the works by Kyo-Tanba school whereas "upright" stroke is identified as the works of Osaka-Tanba school. Also Kyo-Tanba works except first generation chiselled 16 petals of chrysanthemum flower but none of Osaka-tanba works. The subject katana is the work of the second generation Osaka Tanba-no-kami YOSHIMICHI 丹波守吉道, real name Mishina Goroubei 三品五郎兵衛 of the great fame who made "Sudare-ha" technique perfect. He earned a reputation as one of most gifted sword smith to meet with demands from rich merchants or high class Samurais in big commercial city of Osaka. Rated as Yogi- (Supreme sharp) cutting performance The gorgeous dressed Cherry wood bark lacquered scabbard koshirae consists of Fuchi/Kashira : Monkey landscape scene, Shakudo Nanako-ji, Takabori, gold and copper Iroe. signed kankeishi MITSUNARI 関鶏士 光成 Menuki : Peony flower design, Shakudo, Yobori carving, gold and silver Iroe Tsuba : Kiri openwork design, Iron ground, unsigned Higo work Tsuka : White layskin, black silk cord lozenge wrap Silver foiled rocks design carving copper habaki collar, preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting Recent polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
