A beautiful Kanemoto wakizashi mumei of a later generation. The 1st generation started the unique hamon pattern commonly called sanbonsugi. It is said to resemble a row of three cryptomeria (cypress) treetops.= commonly referred to AS “THE 3 Cedars”. Cypress trees are indigenous to Japan and used in many Japanese gardens. This sword is from Mino province where it was forged approximately 350-400 years ago. The flamboyant hamon can be traced back to Magoroku Kanemoto in the early parts of the 16th century and many following generations continued this tradition for hundreds of years afterwards.
This ubu wakazashi has an approximately 13.35″ cutting edge. A KO-Maru as well as sugu style hamon appears in the boshi .The hamon on this particular blade is Sanbonsuji, with a mix of irregular gunome midare. Activity can be found within. This sword has a very small blemish that is slightly visible in the blowup photos. The hada is itame with mokume that literally jumps off the blade. A very interesting and exciting sword to view. This outstanding sword is fully polished and a treat for the collector.
The sword comes mounted in an interesting koshirae of Dragons. The saya is in red lacquer with a konoka like design made to resemble rice bran. The Fuchi /kashira are of dragons with small floral like mons in many small cartouche. The menuki are of dragons and a beautiful dragon tsuba of sengoku. The seppa and habaki are of a gilded finish. The ito is brown with brown sageo. A very nice package.
From Unique Japan about the founder: ” Magoroku Kanemoto have a distinct zig-zag pattern in the tip to resemble the revered god Jizo. Generations that followed Magoroku show a gentle curl called Komaru in the boshi. This point is highlighted in the Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords “. Magoroku Kanemoto blades are known for their keen sharpness and are rated very highly as cutting blades with a Saijo O-wazamono . Many later generations were highly rated as well.
- Mei: Mumei
- Date: Edo (1600’s-1700’s)
- Nagasa: 13-3/8 inches
- Sori: 6.2 mm
- Width at the ha-machi: 28.5 mm
- Thickness at the mune-machi: 6.8 mm
- Construction: Hira zukuri
- Mune: Iori
- Nakago: Ubu
- Kitae: Itame
- Hamon: Midare Gunome (sanbonsugi style)
- Boshi: sugu with a ko-maru-kaeri
- Condition: Good polish
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Kantei-sho (鑑定書) ‒ Appraisal
Den Kōdai Kanemoto (伝後代兼元)
‒ Attributed to a later generation Kanemoto
Shōshin (正真) ‒ Authentic
nagasa 1 shaku 1 sun 2 bu kore ari (⻑さ壱尺壱寸弐分有之) ‒ Blade length ~ 33.9 cm
Heisei 29 nen 8 gatsu 4 nichi (平成二十九年八月四日) ‒ August 4, 2017
Nihon Tōken Hozon Kai (日本刀剣保存会) ‒ NTH
No 18600
meibun (銘文) ‒ Signature: mumei
kitae (鍛) ‒ Forging: itame
hamon (刃紋) ‒ Hardening: gunome-midare (in sanbonsugi style)
bōshi (鋩子) ‒ Hardening in tip: sugu with a ko-maru-kaeri
chōkoku (彫刻) ‒ Engravings:
nakago (中心) ‒ Tang: mekugi-ana (目釘穴) 1, yasurime (鑢): higaki
bikō (備考) ‒ Remarks: Mino province, around Tenshō (天正, 1573-1592)
shinsaʼin natsuʼin (審査員捺印) ‒ Seals of Judges: 4 seals