Mei:
Omote Soshu Den Minamoto Yoshimune Saku / Koki 2603rd year (1943), March
Nagasa:
65cm
Hada:
Itame mixed with mokume
Hamon:
Wide Midareba, nioi-deki
Takahashi Yoshimune was born in 1897 at Ehime prefecture as the elder brother of the 1st Ningen Kokuho, Takahashi Yoshitsugu. He learned swordmaking from Yokoyama Sukesada, Henmi Yoshitaka, and Enju Kunitoshi. He is ranked as the Saijo Saku and regarded as one of the best Showa swordsmiths in most references. He made many swords for Emperor and Generals and won numerous awards in sword competition including the 1st shinsaku Nihonto Den GrandPrix.
(From the book, Dai Nihon Token
Shoko Meikan)
This sword exhibits his skill very well. Wide midareba is dynamic and hamon rise up to shinogi and utsuri are appearing. Yoshimune usually made swords as Bizen style but this beautiful sword was made by Soshu style. Clearly, he is revealing this in nakago that he made this sword as Soshu style. Soshu forging is more difficult compared to Bizen style. Because, in Yakiire stage, Soshu style follows high temperature tempering and the hearth temperature must be increased rapidly to heat the blade after tsuchi-tori is finished. The blade is fresh polished, has double silver habaki, high quality shirasaya, and Hozon papered from the NBTHK.