Bizen Chikakage

A Standout Master of Nanbokuchō Bizen — Bizen Chikakage

Bizen Chikakage was a smith of the Osafune school who was active in Osafune, Bizen Province, from the late Kamakura period through the Nanbokuchō period. A disciple of Nagamitsu, he forged blades at about the same time as Kagemitsu, and dated works survive from around Bunpō to Kōei (1317–1345). The same signature was used across two generations; one tachi is a National Treasure, and three tachi are Important Cultural Properties.

Chikakage's style is close to Kagemitsu's. Most of his blade shapes are slender, elegant tachi typical of the Kamakura period, while some works made after the Nanbokuchō period began have a broad blade width. The jigane is ko-itame mixed with masame, with well-developed ji-nie, and midare-utsuri is somewhat restrained. The hamon is nioi-deki with well-developed nie, a suguha-based pattern mixed with ko-gunome and ko-chōji. The highlight is said to be the saka-chōji (backward-slanting chōji), and ashi and yō are present.

Technical Transformation of Bizen-den in the Nanbokuchō Period

The techniques the Osafune school accumulated in this era were passed on to Osafune Kiyomitsu, Osafune Katsumitsu, and others of the Muromachi period, serving as an important bridge in the long history of Bizen blades.

TOUKENZA and Chikakage

TOUKENZA introduces Chikakage as a master smith who upheld the techniques and dignity of Bizen-den through the turbulent Nanbokuchō period, a smith who embodies the continuity of the Osafune school.