The circle indicate the time we are discussing in this section
During Nanboku-Cho period, Samurai demanded large, elaborate and practical swords. Soshu Den style — elaborate, large, and impressive —became the most popular style. Nanboku-Cho period was the height of the Soshu Den. Many sword smiths moved to Kamakura and forged Soshu Den style swords. Other schools and provinces also made Soshu Den style swords in their own places.
Shape (Sugata 姿)—-Originally the length of the swords were 3, 4, 5, feet long, but shortened to approximately two and a half feet in the later time. Shortening a sword greatly is called O-Suriage. Nanboku-Cho sword has a shallow Kyo-zori (also called Torii-zori) shape (refer 6. Heian period) —highest curvature comes around the center of the body. Wide body, high Shinogi, and narrow Shinogi-Ji (refer 4 Names of parts) and thin body. High Gyo-no-Mune or Shin-no-Mune, sometimes Maru-Mune (round back).
Hi, Horimono (groove and engraving 樋, 彫刻)—– On Shinogi-Ji (refer 4 Names of parts) area, often appears Bo-hi (one groove), double hi, Bonji (Sanscrit), spear, Dragon engraved
Hamon (Tempered line) —– Lower area of the body shows narrow tempered line, higher area of the body shows wider showy tempered line. Course Nie. O- Midare (large irregular), Notare-Midare (wavy irregular), Gunome-Midare (repeating pattern of half circular and irregular mix). Inazuma, Kinsuji (refer 15 Late Kamakura Period sword) action appears
*From Sano Museum Catalogue ( Permission granted).
Jitetu or Jihada (between tempered line and Shinogi) (4 Names of parts)——Wood grain pattern (Itame 板目). Tobiyaki (patchy tempered spot in jihada) appears.
Boshi, Kissaki —– O-Kissaki (Stretched long Kissaki). Fukura kareru (no Fukura). Midare-Komi (tempered line continues into Boshi), with kaeri fukashi (look at the illustration above), sometimes Ichimai (tempered entire Boshi). Look at the above illustration.
Sword-smiths during Nanboku-Cho Period Soshu Den (school)
From Soshu————————————————————Hiromitu (広光) Akihiro (秋広 ) From Yamashiro ————————————————–Hasebe Kunishige (長谷部国重) From Bizen (called So-den Bizen)————-Chogi (長儀 )group, Kanemitu (兼光 ) group From Chikuzen —————————————————————Samoji (左文字 ) 
