NihontoWatchSwordsmith Tanigawa Moriyoshi, whose real name was Tanigawa Matsukichi, was born on February 24, Taisho 9, and forged swords in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. His master's Kongo Hyoe school used the character "Mori" for generations, and in Showa 15, he received the two characters "Minamoto" and "Mori," being granted the swordsmith mei Minamoto Moriyoshi. Furthermore, as he was the successor to the master Enju Yoshishige, he was also granted the name Enju Yoshitsugu in Showa 16. In Showa 9, he entered the school of Kongo Hyoe Moritaka Yasuhiro, and in Showa 27, he received the honor of producing a sword commemorating the peace treaty. On July 3, Showa 29, he received production approval; he was selected for the 1st Sakuto Gijutsu Hyokkakai in Showa 29, selected for the Shinsaku Meito Ten in Showa 42, 43, and 45, and was designated Mukansa in Showa 60. His style follows that of the Bakumatsu master Yamaura Kiyomaro, who was praised as the Yotsuya Masamune. This work has a nagasa of 2 shaku 1 sun 3 bu (64.6cm). The shape is omote: kiriba-zukuri, ura: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, with a wide mihaba, ordinary kasane, little difference between the width at the moto and saki, a shallow sori, and becomes an o-kissaki. The jigane is itame mixed with moku, becoming masame in places, with a visible hada-tachi quality, thick ji-nie, and chikei. The hamon is a shallow ko-notare style mixed with gunome and ko-gunome, with many ashi, deep nioiguchi, thick ko-nie, and active sunagashi. The boshi is sugu style with small midare, returning in ko-maru with hakikake at the tip. This so-called katakiriba-zukuri construction was popular during the Nanbokucho period, with similar examples seen in the works of Soshu Sadamune and Shizu Saburo Kaneuji. This work is perhaps a private homage to a katakiriba-zukuri sword designated as a Juyo Bunkazai among the works of Shizu Saburo Kaneuji. The itame is close to o-itame mixed with moku, with thick ji-nie and prominent chikei, showing a well-wrought kitae that at first glance could be mistaken for the jigane of an old work. The hamon is a shallow ko-notare style mixed with ko-gunome, with thick ko-nie and multiple layers of fine sunagashi, resulting in an excellent workmanship with a bright nioiguchi. This is a superior work by the swordsmith Tanigawa Moriyoshi, who enjoyed a reputation as a master, fully demonstrating his skill. Mukansa As it remains in the polishing from the time of production, slight thin rust is partially visible at the hasaki.
Offered by Tsuruginoya
9 on the market
As written by the shop
Machine translation from the shop's Japanese · may contain errors ·
Kumamoto · around 1926-1989
9 pieces on the market now
Shōwa to the present: destruction and revival
The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
We could not find an authenticity certificate on the seller’s listing. Japanese swords and fittings are normally papered by the NBTHK (or the NTHK). Without one, the attribution is the seller’s own assessment and has not been independently verified — treat it with caution and ask the dealer about certification before buying.
Please exercise cooling-off within 8 days of the item's arrival. (1) We cannot accept items that have been altered or worked on in any way (e.g. test cutting, polishing or other work, display at viewing meetings, photography, taking oshigata rubbings, use for appreciation, copying of books). (2) Return shipping is at the customer's expense. (3) Costs other than the item price (bank transfer fees, cash-on-delivery fees, installment fees, etc.) cannot be refunded. (4) For cash-on-delivery and similar payments, the refund is made after the payment has reached us. (5) We cannot accept a return when a trade-in item is involved. (6) Items delivered overseas cannot be returned or refunded (because of the time involved and, for swords, the surrender of the registration certificate and other circumstances).
Price on request