* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Wakizashi Signed Tsuginao of Bitchū
脇指 銘 備中国住次直作
Also known as: Aoe Tsuginao; dated Enbun 3 (1358); held at the Japanese Sword Museum
Description
A Dated Wakizashi by Tsuginao of the Aoe School
Wakizashi Signed Tsuginao of Bitchū, dated the tenth month of Enbun 3 (1358), is a work by Tsuginao, a swordsmith of the Aoe school active in Bitchū Province (present-day Okayama Prefecture) during the Nanboku-chō period. It is an Important Cultural Property held by the Japanese Sword Museum in Sumida, Tokyo, with a blade length of 33.7 cm. The signature carries an explicit date, making this a rare example with an unambiguous production year. The Aoe school, based in Aoe in Bitchū Province, produced numerous works later designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties during the Nanboku-chō period.
Style
According to the Japanese Sword Museum's own description, the steel shows a density superior to typical Aoe-school work, with a fine grain pattern and a reverse-sloping chōji hamon that together demonstrate Tsuginao's skill. Because it bears an explicit date, the blade also serves as a benchmark work for understanding Aoe-school style during the Nanboku-chō period.
Designation and Present Status
The blade is designated an Important Cultural Property and is presently held and studied as part of the Japanese Sword Museum's collection.