A Shimizu Hisayoshi Katana (清水久義)

Shimizu Hisayoshi occupies a quietly exceptional place in the Shinshintô era. A direct student of Hosokawa Masayoshi – himself one of the grandmaster Suishinshi Masahide’s finest pupils – Hisayoshi absorbed the rigorous forging principles of a lineage that traced back through some of the period’s most celebrated names. His civilian name was Shimizu Sogoro, and he worked primarily in the Sôshû tradition from his base in Sagami province, producing blades known for their robust kasane, generous hira-niku, and powerful presence. He died on 15th September 1868, leaving behind a relatively small but quietly distinguished body of work.

This katana defies every expectation one might bring to a Chujo-saku smith. The blade weighs a formidable 995 grams, with a moto-kasane of 8.2mm that communicates authority from the moment it is lifted. But it is the jihada that stops you cold: a pure, flawlessly executed masame-hada, the grain running in clean parallel lines along the blade in the manner of the ancient Yamato tradition. It is the kind of jihada most closely associated with the Hôshô School of the Kamakura period, and it is extraordinarily difficult to reproduce with any conviction. Hisayoshi has pulled it off completely. This is not a sword that plays to type – it is a sword that reveals the full measure of a smith working at the height of his powers.

The hamon is a lively ko-gunome with ko-choji, enriched throughout with generous sunagashi and chikei. The temper line is tighter than one typically associates with Hisayoshi, bringing additional refinement to what is already a blade of remarkable character. In recognition of its quality, it has earned both NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certification and the NTHK-NPO’s highest designation, Yushusaku – the equivalent of NBTHK Juyo Token in that organisation’s ranking. A custom koshirae was planned for this sword at the time of sale, a fitting complement to a blade that rewards the closest attention.