WAKIZASHI KOSHIRAE: FISH THEME

This koshirae is complete with all fittings including a professionally made tsunagi with 15” nagasa. The tsunagi has a wooden habaki. To place your sword into this koshirae might require some adjustments possibly even a rewrap of the tsuka. Another option would be to merely display it alongside your favorite wakizashi with similar dimensions.

Fuchi / Kashira are shibuichi, silver and gold. I am 99% certain the f/k depict silver beltfish, known as Tachiuo in Japanese.

Menuki are shakudo and gold plate again depicting fish of some variety. 

Kozuka is shakudo with gold depiction of ..yes, you guessed it…Fish. The rendition is unusual as it shows the old way of the fish threaded on a limb after they were caught. We used this same method when I was a youngster.

TSUBA:

The Tsuba is the highlight of this koshirae and constitutes most of its cost. The tsuba depicts a cormorant fisherman doing his thing, fishing.  He is fishing the moon light and using a torch. The torch or fire is not something typically seen on fittings. Generally, fire is seen with the deity Fudo or Kirin. This is the first one like this I have seen. Not to imply there are no others, simply that this is the only one I have seen personally.

The detail is staggering, the facial details are so lifelike from the flared nostrils to the smile on his face. The cormorants as well show so much action, one diving for fish, the other tossing a fish into the air prior to swallowing it as the moon peaks from behind the clouds.

Same on the reverse, note the details of the boat with each board clearly defined.

The tsuba is signed Hiroyoshi from the Uchikoshi school of Mito.

The Uchikoshi school was founded by Hirotoshi who worked c. 1801-1830. Hirotoshi trained under Tamagawa Yoshinaga Michitoshi. Later he moved to Edo but it is not clear whom he studied under there. Hirotoshi trained many students, of them there were 6-7 who were the most famous, Hiroyoshi was one of those.

He signed Jogetsusai Hiroyoshi + Kao, and Hiroyoshi + Kao as seen on this tsuba.

$1500 PLUS S/H and any associated fees (PP, Wire, etc.)

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