Item description:

We are pleased to showcase this exceptional Inoue Shinkai Kunisada blade. Kunisada (Shinkai) is a saijo-saku level swordsmith, the highest level that can be achieved for a swordsmith. Inoue Shinkai is considered one of the best of the Osaka Shinto smiths and this blade shows his incredible workmanship. The Jihada is a beautiful blend of well worked mokume and itame. Chikei and ji-nie can be found in abundance. The hamon has a lovely glowing nioi-guchi frosted with ko-nie throughout. Small inner workings of kinsuji can be seen. The boshi follows the hamon in maru which is also sprinkled with a fine layer of ko-nie. The blade is ubu with one hole and signed “Izumi No Kami Kunisada” and the yasurime is in Sujikai stye and is in perfect condition with a wonderful patina.

The koshirae for this blade is outstanding. The mounts are a deeply carved shakudo with gold of a floral and arabesque pattern and theme. The saya is in the Togidashi Makie style with minor damage from use and and has an antique white silk sageo to match the string wrapped tsuka. String wrapping in silk such as this is of the best quality and is generally done only on the best of swords. The Same (rayskin) is of a lovely antique ivory color with large nodules. There is kodzuka and kogai. The kodzuka has a Mt. Fuji theme to match the Mt. Fuji shaped habaki.

There is a presentation box with Hakogaki dated to Taisho (1924).  This is very unique and historic by itself.  Most swords do not come in kiri wood boxes and if they do they are not generally dated with such an old appraisal.

The shirasaya has sayagaki from Tanobe as the sword has passed to tokubetsu hozon kai.  Submitting this sword to juyo shinsa is always possible and  many of Shikai wakazashi have passed juyo shinsa. A wonderful package for the connoisseur of Japanese swords.

Inoue Shinkai was active from Kanei 7th period to
Tenna 2nd period Settsu. He was active at Settsu until Tenna 2nd year.
His father was Izumi no kami Kunisada. His real name is Inoue Hachirobe Yoshitsugu.
He was a famous sword smith at the time as one of the two greatest authorities along with Tsuda Echizon no kami Sukehiro.
He was called the “Osaka Masamune”. While there are many Sukehiro pieces extant
it was rare to see Shinkai pieces. It is the most cherished of swords for sword connoisseur. Especially collectors of the Shinto period.
He was allowed to put the chrysanthemum crest on the swords that
he had presented to the court.
He changed his name to Shinkai at Kanbun 12th year.

He had exceeded his father’s work quality. Inoue Shikai is the second son of first generation Izumi no kami Kunisada.
In his early days, he used the same signature as his father before him, “Izumi no kami Kunisada”
and helped making his father’s swords and also made swords on his father’s behalf.
 The jigane is excellent
and the hamon is truly bright. It is an excellent piece. The jigane is of the best quality.
There is deep nioiuchi.
The 2nd generation Kunisada or Inoue Shinkai was the second son of Izumi no kami Kunisada.