© Copyright Robert Cole 2015 - No copying or distributing -
SUE-BIZEN  Bizen Sukesada




The SENGOKU Era 

When one talks of SUE-BIZEN, one talks of that that was before 
the SENGOKU - and the SENGOKU.
From the relative peace of the BUN-MEI, the SENGOKU arose from 
about 1490 to a crescendo in the mid/late 1500s. ODA NOBUNAGA 
solidified an amorphous social and military fabric, crushing and 
starving fragmenting alliances to unify the country through the 
1560s and '70s. His life and those of his times would power one 
of the great periods of Japanese history. See SENGOKU
The SENGOKU, in turn, would earn for swords their lowest period 
in history. However, this dark reputation is only a numbers 
game. Always look at the sword for its truth. The great pieces of 
the SENGOKU, in their style, equal the great of any era.

Important Names: SAKYOnoSHIN MUNEMITSU
                  UKYOnoSUKE KATSUMITSU
                  JIROZAEMON KATSUMITSU
                     HIKOBEI TADAMITSU
                  GOROZAEMON KIYOMITSU 
                     GENBEI SUKESADA  - see below
                YOSAZAEMON SUKESADA - see below






See Shinto Sukesada


SUKESADA

HIKOBEI
YOSAZAEMON
GENBEI
JIROZAEMON
SANZAEMON
GOROZAEMON
JIROKURO
SHICHIROUEMON
TOSHIRO
SHINJURO

HIKOBEI Group

SUKESADA MEI-TOKU. KOSORI smith. Worked from Mei-Toku 2, 1391
through Oei 27, 1420.
BIZEN-no-KUNI OSAFUNE SUKESADA

SUKESADA EI-KYO MATAUEMON-no-JO. Years from EI-KYO through
KYO-TOKU 1452 era in OSAFUNE.
BISHU OSAFUNE SUKESADA
BIZEN-no-KUN JU OSAFUNE SUKESADA
BIZEN-no-KUN JU OSAFUNE FUJIWARA SUKESADA


SUKESADA CHO-KYO: He is the father of HIKOBEI. His work is
from KO-SHO to the 1st year of BUN-MEI 1469.
SUGUHA, KO-MIDARE and CHOJI are seen.
BISHU OSAFUNE SUKESADA


SUKESADA(1) MEI-O 1490: HIKOBEI. Son of CHOKYO SUKESADA.
High-mark style brings the new era and foreruns YOSAZAEMON.
MEI-O to EI-SHO 1504. 2 Shaku 2 Sun, wide bladed Sugata are
seen. 7 to 8 Sun thick Kasane Tanto.
Jitetsu is Ko-Itame Hada with standing Utsuri.
Bizen style, Oei derived Koshi-hiraki Gunome Choji Midare
Hamon of great mastery.
BISHU OSAFUNE SUKESADA
BIZEN-no-KUNI JU OSAFUNE HIKOBEI-no-JO SUKESADA

BIZEN-no-KUNI JU OSAFUNE HIKOBEI-no-JO SUKESADA SAKU  

SUKESADA(2) TEN-MON (f: HIKOBEI): HIKOBEI the 2nd, son of HOKIBEI(1).
He is the successor of Genbei, being the third grandson. First
 signed HIKOSABURO SUKEIYE.
SUGUHA AND KOSHI-HIRAKI GUNOME CHOJI-MIDARE BA.

BIZEN-no-KUN JU OSAFUNE SUKESADA
BIZEN-no-KUN JU OSAFUNE HIKOBEI-no-JO SUKESADA
SUKESADA(3) TEN-SHO 1573: Along with HIKOBEI(2), HIKOBEI(3) is also a
grandson of Genbei. Nakamura Ukon of the Awa Ikeda was a great
supporter.
ASHU MIYOSHI-GUN IKEDA JU ONISHI HIKOBEI-no-JO SUKESADA
BIZENnoKUNI JU OSAFUNE HIKOBEInoJO SUKESADA OITE ASHU MIYOSHI-GUN SAKU KORE


Date Masamune's Yosazaemon


































Hikobei Sukesada Katateuchi

Hikobei Sukesada Katateuchi
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 4 Bu (61.81cm)
Sori: 7 Bu (2.12cm)
Motohaba: 1 Sun (3.03cm)
Saki-haba: 6 Bu 6 Rin (2cm)
Kissaki-Nagasa: 1 Sun 7 Rin (4.15cm)
Moto-kasane: 2 Bu 9 Rin (0.88cm)
Saki-kasane: 1 Bu 8 Rin (0.55)
Nakago: 4 Sun 7 Bu (14.24cm)


Shinogi-tsukuri-Ihori-mune Koshizori Katateuchi going Sakizori to Chu-Kissaki. Bo-Hi So-bi walk together.
Ko-Itame Hada with thin of JiNie.
Kani Tsume fights the restraint of Yamagata Gunome mounds, evenly marching up the Ha. Nioi-Fukashi and Ko-Nie shroud an abundance of Ko-Ashi and Yo. Kinsuji and Sunagashi streak through the grain.
Midare-Komi fills the Boshi, becoming deep on Ura.
Ubu Nakago with one Mekugi-ana and signed:

      Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Hikobei-no-Jo Sukesada
      Ei-Sho Sannen Hin-no-e Tora Ni-Gatsu KichiNichi 
                                                  1506 Year of the Tiger



Ei-Sho Sukesada Katateuchi











Ei-Sho Sukesada Katateuchi

Nagasa: 62.4cm

Both Hikobei (early) and his son, Yozozaemon signed in Eisho

Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, raised Shinogi-taka to Chu-Kissaki.
Jigane -
Mokume Itame mix  with JiNie, strong Chikei and Utsuri
His Suguha Hamon is an intense Hataraki of Sunagashi, running Kinsuji and Ko-nie Hotsure.
Chu-Sugu Saagari Boshi with Hakikake and Whiskers
Ubu Haagri Kurijiri Nakago has one Mekugi-ana and slight Mune-niku with Kiri-yasuri noted.

Signed:
Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Sukesada

Eisho JuNen Hachi Gatsu Kichi Jitsu - 1513






Yosazaemon Group

YOSAZAEMON SUKESADA(1) EI-SHO 1504 (f: HIKOBEI SUKESADA(1): NAKAGAWA
YOSAZAEMON. Dies at 76 years in TEN-MON JUICHI, 1542. His working
period was BUNGI right up to the end at TEM-MON JUNEN. His work
placed the proto-type and grace for SUE-BIZEN. He set the tone and
all copied him. The many of his works seen show his SUE-BIZEN
KOSHI-HIRAKI GUNOME CHOJI-MIDARE of many YO called KANI-no-TSUME
"Crab Claw" CHOJI - this in describing the reaching spires seen in
his HAMON. Regardless, some YOSAZAEMON HAMON are SUGUHA. We see he
used SUGUHA in various works to place dynamic and artistic balance.
There is much NIE JIBA that mingles with his UTSURI.
First period work is OEI BIZEN style. O-Notare where everything is
high. Then we see the conservative balance of SUGUHA at play.
BIZEN-no-KUNI JU NAKAGAWA YOSAZAEMON SUKESADA SAKU BIZEN-no-KUNI JU OSAFUNE YOSAZAEMON-no-JO SUKESADA SAKU
 
BIZEN-no-KUNI JU OSAFUNE HIKOBEI DOSHI YOSAZAEMON-no-JO SUKESADA

YOSAZAEMON SUKESADA(2) EI-ROKU to TEN-SHO 6. NAKAGAWA YOSAZAEMON. Son of
1st generation YOSAZAEMON. Infant name was YAKURO. We see his work
from TEN-MON JUNI 1543 until his death in TEN-SHO JUHACHI 1591 at
age 80 years. He first signed SUKEMITSU and YOSAZAEMON SUKESADA at
the same time.
BIZEN-no-KUNI JU OSAFUNE YOSAZAEMON-no-JO SUKESADA SAKU BIZENnoKUNI OSAFUNE YOSAZAEMONnoJO SUKESADA SAKU SEI-NEN ROKU JUKUZAI






Sukesada Yoroidoshi

A thick, proud sword.
Swirling Mokume has JiNie. 

Koshi-Hiraki Gunome-Choji with Togari, Tama and Kani-Tsume Crab-claw Choji. 
Muneyaki falls down the back.

Ubu with clear Mei and date. One Mekugi-ana Kurijiri, Bizen Nakago
Bishu Osafune Sukesada
Ei-Sho Ju Roku-Nen Ni Gatsu-Hi 
                                1520, 2nd month
























Yosazaemon Sukesada Katateuchi - Juyo Bunkazai

Yosazaemon Sukesada Katateuchi
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 1 Sun 4 Bu (64.84cm)
Sori: 6 Bu 2 Rin (1.88cm)
Motohaba: 1 Sun 5 Rin (3.18cm)
Saki-haba: 7 Bu 8 Rin (2.36cm)
Kissaki-Nagasa: 1 Sun 4 Bu (4.24cm)
Moto-kasane: 2 Bu (0.61cm)
Saki-kasane: 1 Bu 6 Rin (0.48)
Nakago: 4 Sun 9 Bu (14.85cm)


Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, Sakizori to Chu-Kissaki.
Itame Hada has JiNie.
Johan, first-half in Bizen Koshi-Hiraki Gunome with Tobi-yaki tossed in high-waving mounds to the Ji.
Kahan, lower-half:  A great Hiro-Suguha flows smoothly to the Machis. In Ko-Nie with Yo and the Nioi is Fukashi.
The easily recognizable pattern marks this singularly famous sword.
Midare-Komi, deep Ko-Maru Boshi.
Ubu, with two Mekugi-ana.
Signed:

     Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Yozazaemon-no-Jo Sukesada
                                  Tame Kuriyama Yokuro Saku Kore
     Ei-Sho Ju-Hachi Nen Ni-Gatsu KichiNichi


Yosazaemon Sukesada Katateuchi
Sho-shin Yosazaemon Kantei Notes
  excerpts Dr Tokuno's Sword Class





Part of the Sho-shin Newsletter, Translator, artist and Tokuno student, Miyauchi, working with transliterator and annotator Cole for sho-shin.com © Copyright Robert Cole 2014





























Yosazaemon Sukesada Katateuchi

Yosazaemon Sukesada Katateuchi
64.2cm
Sori: 2.1cm


Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, wide, strong Katateuchi Sugata with broad, elongated Kissaki.
Itame hada has JiNie.
Yosa's Exuberant O-Gunome is unrestrained in this special order piece. Johan and Kahan are the same wildly waving and dynamic rises reaching the Shinogi and exploding across the upper.
Ubu Haagari Kurijiri Bizen Nakago has two Mekugi-ana.


Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Yosazaemon-no-Jo Sukesada Saku

Yamanaka Rokusuke Wakishi Tsurugi-Ya
           Namazu Goza Kyo Ryo


Kasuga Yosazaemon

Kasuga Daimyojin Yosazaemon
Nagasa: Two Shaku Two Sun Four Bu

Kurikara on Suken and Vajra - Omote
Kasuga Dai Myo Jin - Ura
Shinogi-Tsukuri with Bo-Hi through Johan to
Maru-Dome.
Ko-Itame with Ko-Mokume and Ji-Nie
Strong Ashi and Yo exemplify high-standing Obusa and O-Gunome that crowd into undulating
O-Notare waves sweeping through the Johan Upper. Kagemitsu-style Gunome Togari falls through the lower. Deep Nioi and  Nie find Kinsuji and Sunagashi cutting through the Yakiba.
Gunome with Kinsuji and Sunagashi on Omote, Sugu Suagashi Ura. Ko-Maru Kaeri.
Typical Bizen Nakago in Kurijiri and two Mekugi-ana.

Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Yosazaemon Sukesada Saku
Eisho Ju-Hachi Gatsu Jitsu Nitsu
- 1521










Images with permission. - Darcy

Yosazaemon Sukesada Tanto
Nagasa: 20.4cm
Moto-haba: 2.3cm
Moto-kasane: 0.7cm

Hira-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, Muzori Tanto. Koshihi: Bohi and Gomabashi on Ura. There is a Kirikomi, Battle Scar on the upper Mune.
Ko-Itame Hada has JiNie.
Nioi and Ko-Nie Gunome-Midare with Ashi and Yo in his signature rippling Notare. Kinsuji and Sunagashi pulls Niju in the upper.
Hakikake Saagari Boshi with deep Kaeri coming to Muneyaki.
Ubu, two Mekugi-ana, Kurijiri.
Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Sukesada
Ten-Mon Rokunen Ni-Gatsu Hi - 1536




GENBEI SUKESADA

GENBEI SUKESADA(1) EI-SHO: YOKOYAMA GENBEI. Worked from EI-SHO 1504 to
TEN-SHO 1573 time period. SUGUHA and GUNOME CHOJI-MIDARE BA.
BISHU OSAFUNE SUKESADA GENBEI SAKU BIZEN-no-KUNI JU OSAFUNE GENBEI-no-JO SUKESADA SAKU


Genbei Sukesada

























Genbei Sukesada Katana
Nagasa: 71.6cm
Sori: 2.7cm


Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune of wide blade, Niku and raised ridge, Shinogi-taka with thin Mune-kasane. It has an elongated, round Fukura Kissaki.
Hiro-Suguha of Ko-Nie. There are Ashi and Yo.
Ubu Nakago has two Mekugi-ana, one filled. Signed in the Ji.


Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Genbei-no-Jo Sukesada Saku
Ei-Roku Ju-Ninen Hachi GatsuHi - 1569









































Sukesada Katana
5 piece construction.
Well-knit and intricate Mokume Hada flows
up the JI, marking the laminate next to the HA. Utsuri in the Ji.
Tall, spiring Kani-Tsume "Crab-claw" Gunome Choji shows smoke Utsuri.
Koshi-Hiraki wide-valleys in NIOI.
Ubu
, two Mekugi-ana.
   Bishu Osafune Sukesada




Bizen Sukesada


Bizen Sukesada

In the Namboku style of Osafune Kanenaga
Sweeping Midare-Utsuri becomes Dan-dan over Bizen Itame. Ko-nie and Sunagashi sweeps Gunome-Midare O-Midare Ba.
Hakikake and Kinsuji Sa-agari Boshi. Midare-Kaeri.
 

Ubu Kurijiri Nakago.

Bizen-no-Kuni Osafune Sukesada Saku
Ei-Roku Ju San-Nen Ni Gatsu-Hi  - 1570









Nagasa: 66cm
Nakago: 18cm

Deeply curved with Chu-Kissaki. Koshi-Hi on both sides brings strength to the upper - Sugata for battle from horse.
Omote: Bo-Koshihi.
Ura: Futatsu Koshihi.
Itame Hada stands strongly through the Ji, while Masame runs in the Shinogi-Ji.
Gunome Kani-no-Tsume "Crab-claw" Choji, Togari mix with Tobi-yaki near the Habaki-moto. Sunagashi swims and Kinsuji arcs.
Boshi: Hakikake sweeps the Kissaki.

Ubu Nakago, one Mekugi-ana, long Mei.

  Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Sukesada
   Tensho Sannen Hachi Gatsu Hi
 
                                                   1575, 8th Month










Images with permission. Darcy


Bizen Sukesada Katana
Nagasa: 70cm

Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune Katana.
Ko-Itame hada has JiNie that appears wet.
A wide and exuberant O-Gunome and grouped Gunome Togari Midare in bright Nioi and KoNie. Kinsuji chases the line.
Ubu Bizen Kurijiri Nakago

Bizen-no-Kuni Ju Osafune Sukesada
Ten-Sho Kyunen Hachi Gatsu Hi - 1581




SUE-BIZEN
KAGEMORI MEI-O 1492
___|____
KAGEMORI TEN-MON 1532
___|____
KAGEMORI GEN-KI 1570

KAGEMORI TEN-MON: ITAME HADA. GUNOME CHOJI-MIDARE BA.
Line from OMIYA.
KAGEMORI
BISHU OSAFUNE KAGEMORI
BIZEN OSAFUNE KAGEMORI

                           ____|____   ____|____
KAGEIYE EI-SHO            NAGAMITSU   SUKEMITSU
  GUNOME-MIDARE BA.       ____|____   ____|___ 
  BISHU OSAFUNE KAGEIYE   NAGAMITSU   SUKESADA 
_________               _______       ____|___ 
CHIKATADA EI-SHO 1504   KANEIYE       SUKESADA 
___|_____               EI-SHO 1504   ____|___ 
YOSHIKAGE TEN-MON 1532                SUKESADA


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