- Sukekane was the
adopted son of Sukemori, who was the older brother of Sukenaga.
All of the above of course, are members of the Sukesada clan,
numbering some 80 or so smiths dating from 960 a.d. to 1912. Only
60 of these are recorded as mainline Sukesada family.
- Sukekane has, on many
of his swords, carved the following inscription: "58th
generation after Tomonari." Tomonari is the recorded founder
of the Bizen school, Sukekane was the student of his uncle
Sukenaga, and in many ways, became the equal of his uncle in
quality and artistic endeavor. The main differences that I see are
the superior quality of the jigane and the cut signature of his
uncle Sukenaga. The gunto mounts of this sword contain the
crest of the Mori family.
- This family
name surfaces around 1260 a.d. They were from Aki province and
rose to fame during the Sengoku period. They were given dominion
over Bitchu province and were later defeated at the Battle of
Sekigahara. In WWII, a Takeshi Mori was assassinated in Japan and
his family surrendered this Sword to the American Army Occupation
Forces.
- I cannot prove this
story, but, the gentleman from whom I purchased the sword related
this story to me as it was told to him by the officer who acquired
it in Japan at the time of surrender.
The Japanese Sword Society of Canada
