juyo enju

Jūyō Tōken – 46th Designation

Date of Designation: October 5, Heisei 12 (2000)
Owner: Michael Yamazaki, United States

Sword Type:

Katana – Mumei (unsigned)
Attribution: Enju school

Measurements:

• Nagasa: 69.85 cm

• Sori: 1.8 cm

• Motohaba: 3.05 cm

• Sakihaba: 1.95 cm

• Kissaki-nagasa: 3.25 cm

• Nakago-nagasa: 18.4 cm

• Nakago-sori: 0.1 cm

Shape (Katachi):

Shinogi-zukuri, iorimune, with a standard mihaba, slightly tapering toward the tip. The shinogi is high, and the sori is relatively deep with a slight wa-zori tendency. The chū-kissaki shows slight extension.

Kitae (Forging):

Well-forged ko-itame hada, densely packed, with thick ji-nie and fine chikei. A faint shirake-utsuri appears across the ji.

Hamon:

Primarily a chū-suguha base, with a slight notare tendency. There are occasional ko-gunome elements, especially in the upper section where the yakihaba narrows. Ko-ashi appear, and the nioiguchi is moderately tight with strong ko-nie. Some areas show slight tobiyaki, and in places there is a faint nijūba effect, particularly around the monouchi.

Bōshi:

Straight with a rounded turnback (komaru), shallow kaeri. Displays nijūba-like activity and a brushed finish at the tip (hakikake).

Horimono:

Bōhi carved on both omote and ura, ending in marudome.

Nakago:

Ō-suriage, with an extremely shallow kurijiri. Yasurime are kiri. Two mekugi-ana. Mumei.

Explanation:

The Enju school of Higo Province was founded by Tarō Kunimura, believed to be a maternal grandson of Rai Kuniyuki of Yamashiro. The lineage includes many skilled smiths such as Kuniyoshi, Kunitoki, Kunitomo, Kunisuke, Kuninobu, and Kunituna. From the late Kamakura to Nanbokuchō periods, the school flourished in Kumafu, Kikuchi District of Higo.

Their works generally resemble those of the Yamashiro Rai school, with little distinct individual variation. However, the Enju tradition often includes flowing masame mixed into the kitae, with shirake-utsuri, slightly sunken nioiguchi, modest hataraki within the ha, and large rounded boshi tips with shallow kaeri — traits that help distinguish the school’s work.

This blade exhibits dense ko-itame hada with thick ji-nie and faint shirake-utsuri. The hamon is based on chū-suguha with a light notare touch and includes slight ko-gunome elements and ko-ashi. The nioiguchi is moderately tight with well-applied ko-nie. The presence of nijūba-like activity on the ha and boshi is a noted trait of the Enju school. These features affirm the attribution and represent a strong example of Enju craftsmanship.

While the blade is already of high quality overall, the especially refined forging stands out as a noteworthy point of excellence.