Designated Tokubetsu Juyo Token at the 10^th shinsa held on the 11^th of November 1987.

Item: Katana (Gaku-mei) Sukezane.

Dimensions: Length: 69.1 centimeters; Curvature: 2.1 centimeters; Width at the Base: 2.85 centimeters; Width at the Tip: 2.0 centimeters; Thickness at the Base: 0.7 centimeters; Kissaki Length: 2.9 centimeters; Nakago Length: 18.3 centimeters; Nakago Curvature: 0.1 centimeters.

The construction is shinogi-zukuri with an iori-mune. The blade is wide and the thickness is average. The sword is deeply curved and is koshi-zori. There is hiraniku. The chu-kissaki has a stubby feeling. The kitae is itame with a mixing in of mokume that is flowing in places. The jigane is well covered in ji-nie with a mixing in of a hint of jifu. The jigane contains minute chikei and the faint midare-utsuri is prominent. The hamon is choji-midare with a mixing in of gunome and ko-gunome. There are undulations in the yakihaba. There is repeated ashi and yo activity. The nioi are thick and the habuchi is well covered in ko-nie. There are places here and there where the nie is somewhat powerful. There are streaks of sunagashi and an abundance of longish kinsuji. The boshi is slightly midare-komi with a rounded tip, kaeri and brushing. The sashi-ura is more greatly brushed becoming niju-ba in style. The nakago is o-suriage and the tip is shallow kurijiri. The yasuri are kattesagari. There are three mekugi-ana with one being filled. In the center of the lower half of the nakago on the sashi-ura side there is a large-sized and thickly engraved two-character gaku-mei.

Maker: Ichimonji Sukesane of Bizen Province.

Period: Middle Kamakura Period (c. 1235-1285).

Description: Regarding Sukezane, along with such smiths as Yoshifusa and Norifusa , he is the representative famed smith of the middle Kamakura Period Bizen Fukuoka Ichimonji School. He is later said to have migrated to Kamakura in Soshu. His name can be seen in the "Genealogy of Sagami Smiths" from the Kanchi-in Honmei-zukushi (c. 1299/1316-1423). Based on the fact that there is a similar work that was the favorite sword of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616 ) known as the "Nikko Sukezane" (national treasure), his designation is that much greater.

Sukezane's style of workmanship has a magnificent tachi construction. His ji-ha, in comparison to that typically seen among Ichimonji works is more powerful. His choji hamon have a wide yakihaba with an undulating appearance. His habuchi are well covered in ko-nie, and his boshi have an entirely powerful tempering. Thus, his works have a magnificent appearance that is indicative of a high level of ambition.

This sword is wide and deeply curved. There is koshi-zori and hiraniku. The chu-kissaki has a stubby appearance. The construction has a regal shape. The kitae is well covered in ji-nie and the steel contains powerful chikei. The hamon is choji-midare mixed with gunome and ko-gunome and there are undulations in the yakihaba. There is repeated ashi and yo activity. The habuchi is thickly covered in nioi and is well covered in ko-nie. Here and there the nie is somewhat intense. There are streaks of sunagashi and the kinsuji is conspicuous. The boshi is similarly intensely brushed. The workmanship is excellent and clearly displays this smith's characteristics in the powerful feeling it imparts. Because of the previously discussed style of workmanship, the Sukezane gakumei is entirely convincing.