Yokoyama Sukenaga was the second son and best student of Yokoyama Sukehira. Sukehira was the founder of the Shinto Bizen Yokoyama School.  Sukenaga’s older brother Sukemori became the adopted son of Sukesada, while Suknaga followed in his fathers footsteps. He was also called Grandson of Tomonari in the 56th generation, and this was inscribed upon a number of his works as it is on this wakizashi.  As seen in this example, he was known to produce works with tight itame hada which later became muji. As for hamon he produced several styles including a typical Bizen choji midare with suguba yakidashi in the habaki moto. He also produced a choji midare which have the distinction of resembling the Oka or Cherry Blossom.

In particular as seen in this example he produced an outstanding nie deki suguba with absolutely no kozure.

This is a wakizashi, which was made as a custom order. The sugata is shinogi zukuri, koshi-zori with fumbari.  It features ko-kissaki with omaru turnback.  The hada is a beautiful tight itame, the hamon is a superbly executed suguha done in nie deki. Again, Sukenaga was known and revered for his execution of this style. The nakago is ubu with one mekugi ana, the nakagojiri is haagari and the yasurime is katesagari.

The sword is signed Bizen Tomonari Goju Roku Dai Mago (Grandson of Bizen Tomonari in the 56th generation), Osafune Ju Yokoyama Sukenaga Kore (made by Yokoyama Sukenaga of  Osafune), Tenpo Ni Nen Hachi Gatsu Hi (August 1831), Kitaeru Mimura Kazu Nobu Ozuru (Made at the request of Mimura Kazunobu).

This wakizashi comes with Papers issued at the shinsa held in Great Britain in 1989 by the Great Britain Token Kai (see photos).  While not familiar with the judges personally, I inquired to Clive Sinclair, who had this to say in their regard, “There was indeed a shinsa held in London in 1989 and this was led by Iida Kazuo. The Iida family are the oldest family of sword dealers in Japan having been active since the Meiji period and are still around today. The old boy Iida Kazuo was also the head of To-ken Shinju press and he organized the shinsa team (including Tokuno) in conjunction with Mishina and it was part of our 1989 To-ken Taikai”.

The sword comes with a custom one piece gold foiled habaki and premium shirasaya featuring a buffalo horn hatome.

A gorgeous sword by a highly rated smith and it is currently on sale.

Original Price: $3950 plus S/H

Current Sale price (25% off): $2962.50 plus s/h