Archived Nihonto.ca (Yuhindo.com): Sekishu Naotsuna

Sekishu Naotsuna

Sekishu Naotsuna is one of the legendary Masamune no Juttetsu (the 10 great students of Masamune) and is considered one of the top smiths of the koto period. His inclusion in the Juttetsu is debatable, as some authorities say that he comes too late in time to have worked under Masamune directly. Others say that his style does not show Soshu, but rather Soden Bizen. What we do know is that he worked slightly out of the way, and that there were several generations that came after the first.

There are only very few signed Naotsuna, the two listed in the Juyo index are both Tokubetsu Juyo Token, and one of these is gakumei. I have been lucky to have a chance to look at it myself, and it is a wonderful sword. Placing Naotsuna in time is difficult because of the lack of signed and dated pieces. Luckily his style stands out well for kantei purposes, so discovering his work is straightforward.

Fujishiro places Naotsuna in 1326 in Iwami, which is early enough to have been concurrent with the end of the career of Masamune. He also states that his father was likely Moritsuna of Sekishu and that his teacher was Samonji Sadayoshi. This would be an explanation for his learning the Soshu den, as Sadayoshi learns from Sa, who is another of the great students of Masamune. Fujishiro rates Naotsuna as Jo-jo Saku for highly superior skill.

This particular sword is one of the old Juyo that predate Tokubetsu Juyo Token, so at the very difficult time for passage that it went through in 1966 it was in the highest class of swords that existed. Old Juyo like this are held in high regard and are much sought after. It is one that has been in my collection for years, and a sword that I have cherished all the while.

The hamon is an example of Naotsuna working at his forceful best. It is strewn with violent sunagashi and kinsuji, and pictured below in the monouchi is an area that looks like a tornado whipping through a storm cloud. The jigane is very nice with chikei and ji nie prominent everywhere. Ashi and yo float everywhere in the gunome of the hamon. Especially in the monouchi are the ara nie that are one of his kantei points. There are a couple of scratches in the polish, but the old polish is in all other ways excellent. There is a touch of ohada here and there but there are no major flaws on the sword. In all ways it is an exciting and enjoyable piece.

The shirasaya bears a sayagaki by Homma sensei, and was polished and submitted by Mitsumine in 1966. His signature can be found on close inspection of the hi in the nakago. The sayagaki reads: “Sekishu Naotsuna, O-suriage, Showa Mizunoe Ne (year of the rat), Showa 47 (1972), Minazuki (June). Kugasanbo ni oite. Kunzan shirusu (kao).” The last two sentences indicate it was attested to by Kunzan (Homma sensei) in his studio at his retreat which was named Kugasanbo. It is something to be cherished.

Juyo Token

Appointed on April 20, 1966 – Juyo Token Session 14

Katana, Mumei, Sekishu Naotsuna, 1 kuchi, Mitsumine Kobayashi, Osaka

Keijo

Shinogi tsukuri, Ihori mune, little sori, Naka kissaki.

Kitae

Dense itame hada, very fine ji nie.

Hamon

Gunome mixed with ko-gunome, soroi(even), with ko-ashi and yo, showing sunagashi, deep nioi with ko nie and rough nie here and there.

Boshi

Omote: Midarekomi, saki(tip) komaru hakikake Ura: Midarekomi, hakikake

Horimono

Bohi is carved on both sides.

Nakago

O-suriage, sakigiri, yasurime is katte sagari, with 3 mekugiana, mumei.

Setsumei

Naotsuna is a swordsmith came from Sekishu Izuha. The first Naotsuna is said to be one of the Masamune Juttestu (ten disciples). This sword is o-suriage mumei but its hamon with ji nie on itame, gunome mixed with ashi and yo and strong nie affirms that its created by Naotsuna. The jiba (i.e. jigane and hamon) is excellent.