Tachi Signed Sukemune (Tokyo National Museum)

太刀銘助宗（東京国立博物館）

Smith: Sukemune
Era: Kamakura period
Type: Tachi
Location: Held by the Tokyo National Museum

Description

Overview

This tachi is signed "Sukemune" and is held by the Tokyo National Museum. It dates from the Kamakura period (13th century). The Bunka Isan Online commentary attributes it to Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukemune, a smith of Fukuoka in Bizen.

Background and Workmanship

According to the commentary, Sukemune was an early Kamakura smith of Fukuoka in Bizen. Together with Norimune, the founder of the Ichimonji school, he was chosen as a goban kaji (guard-duty smith) for the retired emperor Go-Toba. The blade has been shortened (suriage), but it keeps a slender, graceful form and has a calm hamon of straight-temper style mixed with small midare. It is described as one of the few signed works by the smith.