OSAKA
      KUNISADA - IWAKI
        KUNISUKE
       TSUDA
       OSAKA TAMBA
       HIDARE MUTSU  SAKAKURA
       IKKANSHI TADATSUNA
        OSAKA ISHIDO
       TAKAI
        OZAKI
        GASSAN
© Copyright Robert Cole 2015 - No copying or distributing
OSAKA  ~Primer~  SETTSU PROVINCE 
INOUE KUNISADA 
SHINTO
UMETADA MYOJU  KEI-CHO 1596
___|____  
KUNIHIRO     
   |(HYUGA)                
   |_________ _________ _________     
___|___    __|___    __|___    __|___    
ECHIZEN    SETTSU    SETTSU    SETTSU   
KUNIKIYO  KUNISADA  KUNISUKE KUNISUKE




OSAKA - SETTSU PROVINCE


INOUE KUNISADA: KO-ITAME, OSAKA Steel.
HIRO-SUGU KUZURE BA, CHOJI-MIDARE with ASHI, 
SUGU-FUKASHI with grouped CHOJI, O-NOTARE MIDARE 
with TOBI, and TORAN-MIDARE with ASHI. Profuse NIE.
OSAKA BOSHI (MARU) and OSAKA YAKIDASHI.


KUNIHIRO (YAMASHIRO) KEI-CHO 1596
   |________________ _______________________________________
___|____         ___|____                                   |
KUNISADA         KUNISUKE                                   |
___|____                                                    |
KUNISUKE            |          __________ __________________|
   |                |      ___|____   ___|____              |
   |             ___|____  KUNITERU   SUKEHIRO (TSUDA)      |
   |_________    KUNISUKE  ___|____   ___|____        ______|
___|___  ____|____         TERUMASA   SUKEMUNE       |      |
SHINKAI  KUNIYOSHI                              _____|__    |
                                                KUNIYASU    |
KUNISUKE                                             |      |
   |______ ____ _________ ________ _________         |      |
___|_____ | ___|____  ___|____ ___|____  ___|_____   |      |
YOSHITADA | HARUKUNI  KUNITOMI SADAKUNI  SADATSUGU   |      |
          |_________ _________                   ____|___   |
        __|__     __|__     __|__                KUNIYASU   |
        HIZEN     IWAKI     IWAKI                           |
       SHINRYO   SADANORI  KUNITORA                         |
                             __________ __________ _________| 
 ___|____                ___|____  ____|____   ___|____       
 KUNISUKE                KUNITAKE  SUKESHIGE  KUNISHIGE










Kunisada Katana
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 3 Sun 5 Bu (71.36cm)
Moto-Haba: 1 Sun 1 Bu (3.33cm)
Nakago: 6 Sun 4 Bu (19.39cm)

Inoue Tatsunosuke Family Possession
Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, wide MiHaba, of shallow curve with O-Kissaki. Omote has Kurikara and Vajra Ken in a frame and Ura with Bonji and KoshiHi-ni-SoBi.
Standing Itame Hada has pronounced Chikei.
Notare Gunome mix of profuse Nie with Sunagashi and Kinsuji.
Notare Komi Boshi where Omote has Hakikake at the head and Kaen to Ura. 
Ubu Nakago with one Mekugi-ana and Haagari Kurijiri. Very subtly narrowing to the lower Ha.

     Izumi-no-Kami Fujiwara Kunisada

Kunisada Katana


Kunisada Dambira
Kunisada Dambira
Nagasa: 1 Shaku 4 Sun 8 Bu (44.84cm)
Moto-Haba: 1 Sun 5 Rin (3.18cm)
Nakago: 4 Sun 5 Bu (14.79cm)

Sudo Eisuke Family Possession
Deeply curved Hira-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, thick blade with wide Mihaba.
Kurikara and Vajra Ken Horimono on Omote and Bonji with Koshihi-ni-Sobi on Ura that runs into the Nakago.
Standing Itame Hada with Mokume mix.
Nie-Deki Notare Gunome is mixed together. Sunagashi streams through and Ashi-iri falls.
Notare-Komi Boshi has Tsuki-age in the mid resolving to long Kaeri.
Ubu, Kurijiri Nakago has two Mekugi-ana.Subtle narrowing to lower Ha.
     Izumi-no-Kami Fujiwara Kunisada




Kunisada Katakiriba
Kunisada Katakiriba
Nagasa: 1 Shaku 3 Sun 3 Bu (40.45cm)
Moto-Haba: 1 Sun 1 Bu 5 Rin (3.48cm)
Nakago: 4 Sun 4 Bu (13.33cm)

Kamiura Kunihiro Family Possession
Omote Kiriba, Ura Hira-Tsukuri wide-bodied, deeply curved, Mitsu-mune Dambira.
Omote Kurikara and Vajra Ken in a frame and Bonji above Gomabashi twin grooves on Ura.
Strongly standing Itame has O-Hada and profuse Ji-Nie.
Notare Gunome mix of Nie with Ashi-iri and Sunagashi running.
Omote-Boshi is Midare-Komi with Ko-Maru to deep Kaeri and Ura-Boshi with Notare-Komi to Tsuki-age and deep fall.
Ubu, Kurijiri Nakago has one Mekugi-ana. Subtle narrowing to lower Ha.
     Izumi-no-Kami Fujiwara Kunisada


























Kunisada Dambira
Nagasa: 1 Shaku 2 Bu 3 Rin (31.2cm)
Moto-Haba: 9 Bu 7 Rin (2.91cm)
Nakago: 4 Sun 1 Bu 5 Rin (12.5cm)


Hira-Tsukuri Ihori-mune elongated Dambira Sugata.
Itame with Mokume has profuse Ji-Nie and Chikei.
Nie Gunome mixes with Saka Choji. Ashi, Kinsuji and Sunagashi pull at figures.The Hamon widens in the upper where Sunagashi and Ara-Nie bring Kuzure Ba into the mid.
Saagari Ko-Maru and long Kaeri.
Ubu, Kurijiri Nakago has one Mekugi-ana.
    Izumi-no-Kami Fujiwara Kunisada


Courtesy and Permissions Dr Tokuno Kazuo



















Kunisada
Nagasa: 1 Shaku 7 Sun 4 Rin (51.65cm)
Moto-Haba: 9 Bu 8 Rin (2.97cm)
Nakago: 4 Sun 7 Bu 5 Rin (14.75cm)

Shinogi-Tsukuri Ihori-mune, Shinogi-taka (raised), Chu-Kissaki..
Standing and running Ko-Itame Mokume mix, with Ji-Nie and Chikei, and Yubashiri.
Ko-Choji, Gunome Togari Ba with Ashi and Yo, in Nie and Nioi. Kinsuji and striating Sunagashi creates Nijuba and Hotsure.
Boshi is Chu-Sugu Hakikake with deep kaeri and Mune-Yaki.
Ubu, Kurijiri Nakago has one Mekugi-ana. Signed in Grass-style.
    Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada


Courtesy and Permissions Dr Tokuno Kazuo








Shodai Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada O-Dambira
Nagasa: 1 Shaku 4 Sun 3 Bu (46.3cm)

Standing and knit Ko-Itame Ko-Mokume has Ji-Nie.
Billowing Soshu-style Nie and Nioi O-Midare Gunome-Midare Ba.
Saagari, Ko-Maru Boshi.
Mumei Suriage Kirijiri has one Mekugi-ana.


Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada
Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada
Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada - Ubu with Suken Horimono






















Shinkai Katana

Shinkai Katana
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 3 Sun 5 Bu (71.12cm)
Moto-Haba: 1 Sun 5 Rin (3.18cm)
Nakago: 7 Sun 2 Bu (21.82cm)

Yoneda Kanejiro Family Possession
Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, shallow curve to Chu-Kissaki.
Tightly knit Itame Hada has Ji-Nie.
Chu-Suguha has long and serene Asaki-Notare undulations of Nie and Nioi-Fukashi. Sunagashi brushes the Habuchi where Kinsuji finds play.
O-Maru Boshi with long Kaeri.
Ubu Haagari Nakago fattens very subtly on the lower Ha. Kesho Yasuri. One Mekugi-ana.
     Inoue Shinkai
     Enpo Ni-nen Hachi Gatsu Hi
                                           (Date, cursive)





Tapestry of Strong Chikei

Streaming Sunagashi, Kinsuji and Inazuma arc through figures (See below)
Shinkai Daito
Shinkai"Osaka Masamune"
Dai-Saku Dai-Mei to Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada (father)
Early work. Soshu style This sword has a family history and is published in the 
Horikawa Kunihiro Toso no Deshi Tachi -
"Famous students of Kunihiro" by Ise Torahiko

Translation of Horikawa Kunihiro Tosono Deshitachi
KATANA MEI    IZUMI-no-KAMI FUJIWARA KUNISADA

KUNZAN Homma,formost authority on the Japanese sword of the last century, states that the "tremendous [nuance] or exceptional power of this sword shows (Shinkai's) fully completed seating as a master. While we see the influence of his teacher, Horikawa Kunihiro, this sword exhibits strong differences from Kunihiro's ordinary Sugata: CHU-KISSAKI and having YAKIDASHI, rounded and spire GUNOME and KO-MARU-BOSHI. We see a starkly superior accomplishment in CHIKEI and unusally strong KINSUJI - this, at the same time of his master. This is more an expression of MASAMUNE or NORISHIGE." 

HORYO - 
NAGASA: 2 SHAKU, 1 SUN, 4 BU
SORI: 6 BU, 8 RIN
MOTOHABA: 9 BU, 4 RIN
SAKIHABA: 6 BU, 6 RIN
KISSAKI-NAGA: 1 SUN, 05 BU
NAKAGO: 5 SUN, 6 BU
NAKAGO-ZORI: Slight

KEIJYO
SHINOGI-TSUKURI, IHORI-MUNE, slightly short with comparatively high SORI. NAKA-MINE (CHU-KISSAKI).
KITAE: ITAME flows. JI-NIE is thick and bright and CHIKEI is mixed in. 
HAMON: GUNOME and CHOJI mixed in a slight NOTARE; and has ASHI and YO. Deep NIOI and NIE abounds. There is SUNAGASHI and KINSUJI. 
BOSHI: Slight MIDARE-KOMI, HAKIKAKE returns long and wild. 
NAKAGO: UBU, UE-KURI JIRI on top/ wide YASURIME cross each other, one MEKUGI-ANA. 
Seven letters as "IZUMI-NO-KAMI - FUJIWARA KUNISADA"

The smaller blade has the particularly prominent JI and HA that shows the superior and known technique of this smith (2nd Kunisada/Shinkai). 
KUNISADA was the youngest student of HORIKAWA KUNIHIRO. After KUNIHIRO's death, he moved to OSAKA and is known as the pioneer of OSAKA smiths. Of the numbers of OSAKA swords, his are most. 
We see DAI-SAKU among these. Peculiar to these DAI-SAKU, the first three characters: "IZUMI-NO-KAMI" are made small, as compared to the last four characters: "FUJIWARA KUNISADA." This circumstance is specific to DAI-SAKU of the KAN-EI KU (Kan-ei 9 - 1632) time period.
This sword is DAI-SAKU of the 2nd Generation KUNISADA (Shinkai).


















Shinkai Katana

Shinkai Katana
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 5 Sun (75.75cm)
Moto-haba: 1 Sun 5 Rin (3.18cm)
Nakago: 7 Sun (21.21cm)

Ota Shiro Family Possession
Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, very shallow Sori to Chu-Kissaki.
Ko-Itame Hada has Chikei.
Nioi-Fukashi of Suguha of Asaki-Notare with Nie, sweeping Sunagashi and Kinsuji pulling Nijuba into the Hamon.
Notare Saagari Boshi has Ko-Maru on Omote and O-Maru on Ura to an abrupt Kaeri.
Ubu, Haagari Nakakgo has one Mekugi-ana. Subtle widening in the lower Ha.
     Inoue Iwaki-no-Kami Kunisada

     Kiku (one dot)
     Kan-Bun Ju-nen Nichi Gatsu Hi
                                                       (Date, cursive)













Shinkai Tanto

Shinkai Tanto
Nagasa: 1 Shaku 7 Bu (32.57cm)
Moto-Haba: 9 Bu 2 Rin (2.79cm)
Nakago: 4 Sun 8 Bu (14.54cm)

Ota Yoishikazu Family Possession
Hira-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, slight Sori, wide blade with a tapering toward the upper.
Ko-Itame Hada has Ji-Nie.
Asaki-Notare holds Gunome-Midare Ba with Ashi and Sunagashi that pushes Hotsure through the Habuchi. Nioi is serene.
Midare-Komi Boshi has a Jizo-like KoMaru and long falling Kaeri.
Ubu, haagri nakago has one Mekugi-ana and subtle fullness in width.

     Inoue Shinkai
     Sixteen petal, sixteen cell intersected Kiku-Mon
     Enpo Shichi-nen Hachi Gatsu Hi
                                                          (Date, cursive)


















Juyo Bijutsu-Hin Shinkai

Juyo Bijutsu-Hin Shinkai
Nagasa:2 Shaku 3 Sun 2 Bu (70.3cm)
Moto-Haba: 1 Sun (3.03cm)
Nakago:7 Sun 2 Bu (21.82cm)

Yoshii Tadanao Family Possession.
 Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, slight Sori to Chu-Kissaki.
Ko-Itame Hada is unusually tight. There is Ji-Nie and Chikei.
Chu-Suguha has very slight almost dreamy Asaki-Notare undulations. Nie in Nioi-Fukashi that is serene.
Sugu Ko-Maru Boshi has a medium Kaeri.
Ubu Nakago, one Mekugi-ana. Haagari, fullness to the Ha.
     Inoue Shinkai
     Kiku-mon, sixteen petal, sixteen segment
     Enpo Roku-nen Hachi Gatsu Hi
                                                      (Date, cursive)



















Sadatsugu

Sadatsugu Wakizashi
Student of Shinkai
Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, slight Sori to Chu-Kissaki.
Strong Mokume with O-Hada Hada. There is Ji-Nie, Chikei and Yubashiri.
Notare holds complex Midare and Gunome-Midare of Nioi and Ko-Nie Fukashi and Kuzure in the Habuchi, where vivid Kinsuji fights with Sunagashi.
Chu-Sugu Ko-Maru Boshi has Hakikake.
Suriage Nakago with two Mekugi-ana.
     Iga-no-Kami Sadatsugu








































Masamichi Katana

Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, broad and thick-bodied to Chu-Kissaki.
Strong Itame Hada. There is Ji-Nie.
Midare, Gunome-Midare mix in clear Nioi-Fukashi and profuse Mura-Nie. Nioi-Kuzure in Sunagashi and Kinsuji that creates Nijuba.
Kakikake and Kinsuji Boshi with long fall.
Ubu, Kurijiri Nakago with two Mekugi-ana.
Hirama-no-Kami Fujiwara Masamichi