G74153(S2649) Katana signed Muge Hachiman-ju KANEKUNI-saku Auspicious day, July, Heisei 13 NBTHK(Hozon)
MUKANSA artist (2006)
Important Intangible Cultural Property holder (2008)
Contemporary sword (Heisei 13/2001) Gifu prefecture
Length of cutting edge 74.5cm Curvature 1.8cm Width of base 33.9mm Width of Yokote 26.1mm Thickness of base 7.5mm
Blade construction:Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, Width of base is wide standing firmly on base and less degree of tapering from base to elongated large Kissaki. The shape is created in Nanbokucho-revival blade that was made in the Keicho era. (click HERE for higher resolution image)
Carvings(Horimono) : Futasuji-hi parallel grooves on lower waist and upper is single Bo-hi groove of which the upper point starts at lower in Kissaki.
Forging(Hada): Forging pattern is super fine Ko-Itame-hada under superior steel. The steel gives off sparkling martensite crystals of Ji-Nie against bluish steel of Jigane to generate long gleaming straight lines of Chikei over the Hiraji surface.
Temper(Hamon): The most flamboyant Hamon is martensite crystals of frosty Ko-Nie based with misty-Nioi where deep boundary area shines clear and bright. Starting with slanting Yakidashi on base, Big surges of Toran-ha. There works with minute lines of Sunagashi and long lines of Kinsen. The entire quenching state is impressively clear and refreshing bright in full.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi calms down at Yokote to form straight Sugu-ha with a slight indication of delicate Hakikake then medium circle turns back in good manner.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is UBU in original. One Mekugi-ana peg hole. Slanting left Kattesagari with horizontal Kesho filemark. The heel shape is Double-bevelled Kurijiri in full.
The signature in Hakiomote front starts with living place Muge Hachiman-ju |Z then smith name KANEKUNI-saku . The other side is chiselled with the date of year Auspicious day, July, Heisei 13 \ONg.
Ogawa KANEKUNI 쌓, real name is Ogawa Kunihiko MF, was born in January 25, Taisho 14 (1925). He joined to Ogawa Kanekuni Sword Forging Studio 쌓bB in Showa 14 (1939) when he was as young as 14 years to learn sword making technique then worked in Chiba Sword manufacturing factory t쏊 during Showa 17- 19 (1942-44) as an the youngest official army sword maker with an initial sword smith name KUNITADA . He himself joined to the battle line in China.
Postwar, he wished again started making sword but all his evidence or official licence of his own career as a sword maker were burned to ashes during wartime chaos. He was compelled to give up his hope of sword making many years.
After having worked in farmer or poultry farming many years, at 47 years age he followed his belief starting to acquire again an official licence of sword artisan to become a scholar under smith Kanako Magoroku KANEMOTO qZi).
After 5 years admission that is stipulated by the Agency of Cultural Affairs, he officially licensed as a traditional Japanese sword artist in Showa 52 (1977) then established his own atelier in Hachiman, Muge-town, Seki ciry, Gifu prefecture.
He performed a brilliant activities to win many prizes such as 2 times of YUSHU-award, KUNZAN-award in Heisei 10 (1998) and 13-16 (2001-2004) awarded with the same KUNZAN-award continuously then grand-prix prizes of TAKAMATSU-NO-MIYA-award and NBTHK-CHAIRMAN-award. Under such great achievements, Japanese Sword Preservation Society (NBTHK) nominated him as the top skill qualification prize MUKANSA award (not submitted to the jury) in Heisei 18 (2006) and finally he won the honor prize of Gigu Important Intangible Cultural Property in Heisei 20 (2008). Died in November 26, Heisei 24 (2012) was 87 years old.

The subject sword is dated Heisei 13 (2001) when he was 76 years old while he continuously won the KUNZAN prizes. The shape is heroic, wide in base and there is less degree of tapering from base to point holding thick Kasane and shallow curvature leading to an extended large tip. Extremely fine forging using top quality steel gives off sparkling fine and uniform granules so called JINIE and well refined that generates darkish Nie lines along straight grain so called CHIKEI activity.
Hamon bears a close resembles to big surges that he does well. Temper boundary line is deep in Nioi and is covered in uniform Nie granules. The interior is filled in whitish Nioi-mist like crystalize area where thick Nie feet works toward the cutting edge. Frequent thick lines of Nie "Sunagashi" and bright curved threadlike area "Kinsen" activates across the feet.
The entire hamon has a close resemblance of Sukehiro's Toran-ha to add his own workmanship of Shoshu-trend favor. This katana is harmonized well with parallel Koshi-hi and upper Bo-hi groove on both sides. Just before exhibiting on this page, we have affixed Hozon certificate to this Katana to prove that this katana is remarkable achievement among his extant works.
Preserved in a Shirasaya plain wood mounting, Double layers Silver Habaki collar.
 
 Katana signed Muge Hachiman-ju KANEKUNI-saku Auspicious day, July, Heisei 13
 Katana signed Muge Hachiman-ju KANEKUNI-saku Auspicious day, July, Heisei 13
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