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3．Musashi ( 武蔵 ) in Edo ( 江戸 )
The Katana and Wakizashi made in the Musashi area have shallow Sori (curvature). Often the width of the upper part of the body tends to be narrow. Usually, the Hamon starts with a small irregular pattern, gradually becomes a bigger irregular pattern, then a few inches under the yokote line, it becomes a small irregular pattern again. The Boshi is usually Komaru-boshi. The Ji-hada is somewhat rough. Masame-hada shows on Shinogi-ji.
Well-known swordsmiths in Musashi ———————————-Noda Hannkei (野田繁慶) Nagasone Okisato Nyudo Kotetsu (長曽根興里入道虎徹)
Nagasone Okisato Nyudo Kotetsu Noda Hankei (野田繫慶) (長曽根興里入道虎徹) from Compton’s collection “Nippon-to” Once owned by my father.
- Echizen ( 越前 ) and 5. Kaga (加賀 )
Many swordsmiths from Mino (美濃) area moved to Echizen and Kaga area (#4 & 5 on the map above). Therefore, the swords made in this area are called Echizen- seki, and Kaga-seki. Refer to 23|Sengoku Period (戦国) Sword for Mino Den. The style of Echizen Yasutsugu (越前康継) is similar to the one of Mino Den.
Well-known swordsmith in Echizen ————————-—Echizen Yasutsugu (越前康継 )
- Hizen (肥前)
Both Katana and Wakizashi in Hizen have a well-balanced shape. Hizen area tends to make swords with Chu-suguha-hotsure (a medium-width straight Hamon that looks like frayed fabric.) with fine Nie (沸). The Boshi has a regular clean line with uniform width tempered line, as shown in the illustration below. If you see a Shinto sword which has Chu-suguha Hamon and a Boshi that looks like the one below, it is often made by Hizen Tadayoshi (肥前忠吉). Very fine Ji-hada (surface), sometimes called Nukame-hada.
Well-known swordsmith in Hizen ———————————— Hizen Tadayoshi ( 肥前忠吉)
- Satsuma (薩摩 )
The swords made in Satsuma have a solid look for both katana and wakizashi. Kissaki (the top pointed area) is a little stretched. Yakidashi (a few inches above Machi ) shows a small irregular Hamon. Hamon is O-midare with coarse Nie called Ara-nie. The Ara-nie forms Togari-ba (pointed pattern, see the drawing below). One of the characteristics of this region is Satsuma-nie. That is, the Ara-nie around hamon continues and blends into the Ji-hada area. Therefore, the border between Ha-nie and Ji-nie is unclear. Inside the Hamon sometimes shows a thick line shaped like lightning. This line is called Satsuma-no-imozuru (sweet potato vine), less favorable than Inazume and Kinsiji. This is the most prominent feature of the Satsuma sword. Boshi has a narrow-tempered line with a small irregular pattern. This is called Satsuma-boshi. On the Ji-hada surface, Chikei (a long dark line like) appears. This is called Satsuma-gane (薩摩金).
Well-known swordsmiths in Satsuma —————— Izunokami Masafusa (伊豆守正房) Ichinohira Yasuyo (一平安代) Mondonosho Masakiyo (主水正正清)
Study of Japanese Sword 