Archived Nihonto.ca (Yuhindo.ca): Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi

Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi

Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi worked right at the beginning of the Shinto period. He is the son of Kanemichi of Mino province, and moved to Kyoto with his father where he worked until 1635. His title of Tanba no Kami dates to 1595, which is one year before the “official” start of the Shinto period.

This border between the periods is in practice more grey than the abrupt termination that is handy to use for classification purposes, so though he was working in the koto period he is considered to be a shinto smith by style and tradition.

He made swords of great sharpness, receiving the ranking of Ryo-wazamono. Fujishiro rates him as Jo-saku, for a high degree of quality.

This sword in particular has had the machi moved up, otherwise it would have come in over 70cm. There are two rather insignificant kitae ware in the hi, and the sword remains very well made with a flamboyant gunome midare hamon of bright, silvery nie in the style of Shizu. Throughout the yakiba one can find strong kinsuji and sungagashi, and in places black inazuma cross into the jihada.

Yoshimichi sought to perfect the extensive use of sunagashi in his hamon, and the combination is considered to look like bamboo-strip curtain, thus gaining the name of sudareba. He is well known for this style, shown in this sword, and it is an important kantei note.

The jigane in this katana is itame as is appropriate for his style. Yubashiri are present as tempering effects go as high as the shinogi in places. Tobiyaki float here and there as well.

As an added bonus, this sword comes with a signed kogatana made by Yamato no Kami Yoshimichi (unauthenticated). Old kogatana like this are nice collectables.

This sword resides in a shirasaya bearing a detailed sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro sensei of the NBTHK. Clicking the picture will bring up a high res version if you are able to read Japanese!

Kyoto Tamba, first generation Ubu nakago, machi-okuri

Compared to other Yamashiro-den works, this katana’s gonome style midare is somewhat unusual. Very good research material.

Katana length Two shaku, Two sun, Six bu