Signature: Ishido Unju Korekazu Kore (Wo) Niragu. Bunkyu Gannen 2 Gatsu Hi. Moto-oki Nyudo Shoken Kore (Wo) Kitaeru.
The blade is polished, with a gold foiled habaki, in a shirasaya. Dr. Kanzan Sato wrote the saya-gaki in April 1967.
Blade length: 36.97cm or 14.56 inches. 0.42 inch. Width at the hamachi: 3.07cm or 1.21inches. Thickness at the hamachi: 0.84cm or 0.33 inch.
Era: Edo period. February1861.
Shape: A wakizashi. Big kissaki resembles
to Osoraku-zukuri.
Horimono: Naginata-hi is carved on the both side of the blade.
Jitetsu: Jinie appears on the itame-hada. It liiks like Muji-fu.
Hamon: Brilliant gunome-midare waves with long and soft ashi.
According to the signatures, Moto-oki Nyudo Shoken did Kitae, tempering
the sword and Ishido Unju Korekazu did Niragi, hardened it putting into
the water.
Fujiwara Korekazu the 7th was born as a nephew of Kato Tsunatoshi. Korekazu
went to Edo and succeeded the head family. He made sword at the Hama palace
in September 1843. In recognition of this service, the Tokugawa Shogunate
allowed him to use a hollyhock crest on the tang of his sword. The Uesugi
family of Yonezawa gave him a warm patronage. Shoken Moto-oki in Yonezawa
province and Katsumura Norikatu in Mito province were Korekazu’s
famous pupils. Korekazu passed away in 1891, aged 75. He was very good
at Soden-Bizen style that gained a reputation.
Moto-oki Nyudo Shoken, known as Moto-oki the Second was born as a grandson
of Moto-oki the First and learned under a pupil of his grandfather Minakawa
Munetoshi. The Second Moto-oki went to Edo in 1859 and started to use
prist name Nyudo Shoken with the signature. Quite a few corroboration
works with Ishido Korekazu like this still survive. Famous cutting tester
Yamada Asaemon inscribed the result on the other Moto-oki's swords. It
is certain that they improved themselves through these experiences. Moto-oki
succeeded grandfather 's name Hidekuni in 1865 and was appointed Yamato
(No) Kami in 1866. He passed away in 1891.
