Katana Echizen Yoshimichi

An Echizen shinto katana in koshirae 

Signed Echizen fukui ju Yoshimichi / Watabe Jiro Bei I Yoshimichi
(越前福居住吉道 / 渡部治郎兵衛吉道)
Early Edo period, circa 1624-1661

Blade: NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Koshirae: NBTHK Hozon Kodogu

Nagasa [lenght]: 64.8 cm
Motohaba: 3.2 cm, sakihaba: 2.1 cm
Motokasane: 8 mm, sakikasane: 5 mm
Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, chu-kissaki.
Kitae [forging pattern]: masame hada mixed with mokume hada.
Hamon [tempering pattern]: hitatsura with gunome midare and o-choji. Long and clear sunagashi, ji-nie, chikei and kinsuji.
Bōshi [point]: hakikake.
Nakago [tang]: short suriage, katte-sagari yasurime; one mekugi-ana.

Origami

The blade comes with a Tokubetsu Hozon Token certificate and the koshirae with a Hozon Tosogu certificate, both issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai.

Koshirae:
The blade comes with a good koshirae certified NBTHK hozon tosogu. The saya is decorated in low relief urushi with plovers and the whole mount is protected with an original leather cover.

Yoshimichi was a member of the Echizen Seki school. He was one of the first swordsmiths who moved to Echizen province from Seki in Mino province in the early 17th century. They worked in what we call the Shinto tokuden tradition that was fashionable at the time, as well as their original Mino tradition.

Two generations of Yoshimichi are known, but only the second generation signed with the original name Watanabe Jiro bei, active from Kanei to End eras (1624-1661).

Katana for sale. Price on application. Please include item stock number: tok-1424