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Since I started collecting Art swords 4 years ago, I have always been captivated by the beautiful photographs of many great swords listed on Yuhindo.com site. I particularly like the Norishige with its flamboyant hamon and unique hada. It builds up a strong desire to own one, someday.
I would say, this sword seeks me out....a much sought after sword remained unsold after couple of years of listing, buried amongst the numerous military sword listings and forgotten by all. It did not even show up on google...so weird.
In Japanese sword history, Masamune is widely considered as Japan's greatest smith. Together with Yukimitsu and Norishige, they brought the Soshu school of sword making to new height.
Norishige was senior to Masamune when they were studying and working alongside together with Yukimitsu under Shintogo Kunimitsu.
Training and working under Shingoto Kunimitsu, Norishige was believed to have exchange technical know-how with or learned from Go, Yukimitsu and Masamune.
According to many sword experts, Norishige's works are superior to Masamune in the hataraki activities of nie and forges a unique jihada known as the Mastukawa-hada (Pine bark) grain.
This sword is very robust and on the sayagaki, Tanobe sensei (Retired head of NBTHK) wrote that this sword is a masterpiece that stands out from all the blades that attributed to this smith.
It has a recent Juyo Token ( Important sword) certificate and is a good candidate for higher Toku-juyo certification.
Soon after the acquisition of this sword, I further managed to acquire a Tamestugu, a Sanenage, an Uda and a Go Yoshihiro katana.
Norishige and Go hailed from Ethchu prefecture and it was said that they learned from each other when they were in Kamakura.
Sayagaki:
De s i g n a t e d as juyo token at the 59th Juyo Shinsa
Etchu no Kuni Saeki Norishige
Designated as juyo-token at t he 59th juyo-shinsa
Etchu no Kuni Saeki Norishige
O-suriage but the tang bears a two-character kinpun-mei attribution to this smith. The blade is of a powerful shape and the ji shows a characteristic matsukawa-hada. The hamon is a notarewith a wide nioiguchi that is mixed with gunome and that features much large-graind nie and on top of that an infinite variety of hataraki like chikei, yubashiri, sunagashi, and kinsuji. The superb hardening in nie-deki clearly speaks for the hand of one of the early great masters of the Soshu tradition, particularly that of Norishige. Thus we have here a masterwork that stands out from all blades attributed to this smith. Blade length ~ 7 3 . 2 c m - Written by Tanzan Hend,pen name of Tanobe Michihiro in the eleventh month of the year of the sheep of this era ( 2 0 1 5 ) + kao.
LAST 3 PHOTOS DEPICTED THE SAID NORISHIGE PLACED NEXT TO THE KENCHO TO SHOW ITS MIGHTY SIZE.
Nagasa: 73.2 cm
Motohaba: 3.15 cm
Sori:1.4 cm
Price : Reserved