Seeiking info on swordsmith Kagashiro Masakiyo

[Mushin]

Hey folks,

 

Looking at wakizashi, mei Masakiyo, Aoki Motonaga Ageru Kore. I am told it is the work of Kagashiro Masakiyo, I've not been able to find out much about the smith. The sword was shortened some 300 years ago by Aoki Taira Motonaga about whom I have found nothing. It is orikaeshi mei but in really outstanding condition and papered. Anybody able to tell me more about the smiths?

 

Many thanks,

 

Bobby

[Gabriel L]

I will not be able to help much on this, sorry, but perhaps if you could post an image of the mei, orikaeshi or no, it would help others in their search. There seem to be several Izumi-province Kagashiro-group smiths signing Masakiyo, including some with different characters for "Masa."

 

Of course, if you don't own the blade, that could be difficult.

[Nobody]

Hi,

 

If you are thinking of the sword with the paper attached, they are referring to the following Masakiyo and Motonaga. They do not say that the sword was shortened some 300 years ago. They say that the sword was more than 300 years old when it was shortened by Motonaga.

 

 

Masakiyo (正清) – thought to be Kagashiro Masakiyo (加賀四郎正清):

Ca. Bunmei era (文明: 1469-1487)

Province: Izumi (和泉)

Sue Koto Josaku (末å¤åˆ€ä¸Šä½œ)

 

Aoki Taira Motonaga (é’木平元長):

Ca. Bunka era (文化: 1804-1818)

Province: Owari (尾張), Settsu (摂津), etc.

Shin-Shinto Chu-Josaku (新々刀中上作)

[Mushin]

Thank you very much indeed, that's it. (I am not doing very well with my kanji at all.) Any idea where I can find out more about these smiths? Any references you can recommend?

 

Much appreciated,

Bobby

[Grey Doffin]

According to my index, Kagashiro Masakiyo can be found in the following references: Yumei Koto Taikan by Iimura, page 503, Zuikan Tomei Soran by Iida, page 341, and Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten: Koto Hen, page 393.

Grey

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Bobby,

 

if you don't own these books, here is what says Fujishiro in Toko Jiten (english translation):

 

MASAKIYO KAGA SHIRÔ [bUNMEI 1469 IZUMI] SUEKOTÔ JÔSAKU

The home kuni of the founder Mitsumasa is Kaga, he is called Kaga Shirô, he later changed his name to Masakiyo, and his era is said to be Jôji, but works have not been seen. As for the swordsmith of Izumi, the works are extremely few, and there are works of Yoshimasa and Sukemasa nado, but from the standpoint of the era, this Bunmei Masakiyo had the status of senpai to the Izumi swordsmiths. Hamon is sugu shimari and resembles that of Heianjô Nagayoshi.

Signature: SENSHÛ JÛ MASAKIYO SAKU

 

And an oshigata:

 

 

Hope this can be helpful.

[Mushin]

Thanks very much Jacques.

 

So from what I infer he was not prolific, but well thought of by Fujishiro. (I assume this from the reference to his being considered senpai to the Izumi swordsmiths and rated SUEKOTÔ JÔSAKU.)

 

The papers, obviously from an older shinsa, also only attiubute the work to Masakiyo -- again I assume this the result of the blade being orikaeshi mei. Is this something to be concerned about?

 

And I can't find anything on Montonaga, the shinshinto smith who did the shortening. Does anybody have any work by him?

 

As always you guys are great teachers and I thank you.

 

Bobby

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

You have a Motonaga blade here

 

Aoki Motonaga (Bunka 1804) was a student in the later generation Hoki no kami Nobutaka school, later he became a student in the Yamato no kami Motohira school and after returned to Owari to work.

 

Motohira (nidai Tenpo 1830 ), son of the shodai, worked in Yamashiro. (oshigata below)