220 Yoshisuke




Soshu Yoshisuke 1500 to 1532 a.d. This sword signed with a two character signature Yoshisuke. Soshu Yoshisuke also changed his name in at least two other occasions. These were Nobusada and Gisuke -- he seems to have traveled to other parts of Japan improving his workmanship gaining experience. In the beginning, the Soshu tradition was influenced by both the Yamashiro and Bizen traditions. This sword reflects both traditions. The blade is a suriage (shortened) and machiokuri (notches moved up slightly). A katana of 24.8 cm with three meguki-ana (holes in the Nakago or Tang) The jigane (forging) is ko-itame grain (woodgrain) combined with ko-mokume grain (burlegrain) and covered in nie (martinsite crystals). The jitetsu is very beautiful and resembles that of the Aoe tradition. The temperline (hamon) is nie based in a tight suguha (straight temperline). There are ko-ashi (short martinsite crystals called nioi) and nezumi-ashi (ko-meaning small) (ashi - literally legs) (nezumi - meaning shorter still). The jitetsu (surface pattern) is very beautiful reminding me of the Aoe school. The koshirae (fittings) are all matching (issaku).