SUKESADA GENBEINOJÔ [KÔJI 1555 BIZEN[] SUEKOTÔ JÔJÔSAKU
He made many swords for the House of Urakami, Castle Lord of Tenjin-Yama. Tenjin-yama is said to have been in Bizen Waki-gun Yamada-mura, and I wonder if he was someone who lived there? He is said to be the son of Yosazaemon Sukesada. He continued this family, and his works are from Tenmon to Tenshô. They are katana and tantô, and his style is gonome choji, or sugu ashi iri, sugu hotsure nado.
Signatures: BIZEN KUNI JÛ OSAFUNE GENBEINOJÔ SUKESADA SAKU
This is gonome choji with nioi appearing loosely in the ha, and is a distinctive feature generally throughout late Bizen. There is also a similar style in the Kashû Fujishima Ha, and the Higo Dotanuki Ha nado.
Genbei no Jo Sukesada is said to have been the son of Yosazaemon no Jo Sukesda, one of the most famous Sukesda among others. And, He served Uragami clan who was the head of Tenjinzan castle in Bizen province. His grandfather was Hikobei no Jo Sukesda. And these three Sukesada (Genbei no Jo, Yosazaemon no Jo and Hikobei no Jo) are most well-known and skilled Sukesada during the late Muromachi period.
The swordsmiths in Bizen produced many swords during the Muromachi period as it was in the middle of the Sengoku period (Warring state period). The demand for weapons increased among strong feudal lords. It would be nice to have a piece forged in the warring state period when there was so much rivalry between warlords. It was possible that this blade was ordered by a Samurai and he might have carried it in a battlefield.
Those who forged swords in the Bizen province (Okayama prefecture) at the end of the Muromachi period (1492-1569 A.D) are called Matsu Bizen (Matsu means the end). Sukesada school was one of the most famous schools, and it flourished for generations among Osafune schools (The head branch). There were various styles forged by the generations of Sukesada during this period. Approximately 60 swordsmiths used Sukesada as his maker’s name in the Samurai history. In that sense, the swordsmith’s name “Sukesada” worked as a kind of brand that attracted many Samurai.
Bizen Koku ju Gembei no jo Sukesada was one oft he 3 most important blacksmith of the Sukesada´s. He was the son of Yosazaemon and Hikobei Sukesada was his grandfather. Gembei was one of the really famous Sukesada smiths and worked at the end of the Muromachi periode for the house of Urakami, the lords of the Tenjin castle in the province of Bizen.
His swords has been recognized for the high value and quality and were sought by high ranked Samurai.
Fujishiro is ranking him a especially good smith (jojo saku). This rare and exceptionally Katana, which is showing us the art of forging, is without any flaws, in a perfect condition. It is signed and dated. And to make it perfect it comes with an old and beautiful Tachi Mounts. This balde comes with a Hozon NBTHK of Tokyo.
Signature: Bizen Koku ju Gembei no jo Sukesada, and Tensho Gannen 8gatsu (1573)
Nagasa/Length: 2 shaku, 5 sun, 2 bu, ca 76,5cm