A Tsuguyoshi Tantô (備中国住次吉)

Fourth generation Tsuguyoshi is considered the finest swordsmith of the Chû-Aoe school, a tradition that ran from the mid-Kamakura period (~1240) to the close of the Nambokuchô (~1393). His given name was Genjirô and he received the honorary title Sakon Shôgen. A sayagaki by the celebrated scholar Kanzan-sensei (Satô Kan’ichi), written in the summer of Shôwa kinoe-tora (1974), confirms the attribution to this smith and dates the blade to around the Karyaku era (1326-1329). That a scholar of Kanzan’s standing felt compelled to put brush to wood speaks clearly to the quality of what lies inside.

The blade is forged in a beautifully worked mix of itame and mokume-hada with the dark ‘catfish-skin’ spots of namazu-hada swimming in the steel – a trait that is the hallmark of the Aoe school and endlessly rewarding under a good light. Ji-nie glistens across the surface and chikei abounds. The hamon is a snow-white suguha-chô with fine ko-ashi and sunagashi, glistening like freshly fallen snow. The blade carries an uchi-zori and koshi-bi on both sides running kaki-nagashi through the nakago, with a near-original ubu tang retaining three mekugi-ana.

The tanto is housed in a spectacular late Edo aikuchi-koshirae from the Bakumatsu period (1853-1868), with a complete matching set of silver fittings in a rolling wave theme crafted by master metalsmith Efu Shibuya Anjû of Edo. His signature appears on the koiguchi. The kôgai and kozuka are signed by Masamitsu and form a certified matched set. Menuki depict flying cranes in gold, symbols of longevity and fidelity. The koshirae holds NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon alongside NTHK Kanteisho for the fittings – every element of this ensemble has been formally examined and confirmed. Tsuguyoshi is ranked both jôjô-saku (highly superior) and ô-wazamono for excellent cutting ability. Handle with appropriate respect.