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The Eight DO
TOKAIDO - The Eight Roads of KOTO		 




SURUGA - SHIMADA School 

        SENGOKU. Pronounced MOKUME. SUGU KO-MIDARE, CHOJI-GUNOME
        MIDARE with SUNAGASHI, NOTARE O-MIDARE. YO and MUNE-YAKI.
        HAKO-MIDARE and HITATSURA.KAI and SURUGA: SOSHU style.
      Katana are 2 Shaku, 2 or 3 Sun. Hamon can be 
      Nioi-Deki. 

Legend bestowed IMAGAWA YOSHITADA's "YOSHI" to SHIMADA YOSHISUKE. 
However,YOSHITADA died in battle BUN-MEI 12(1480). Written 
histories from the EDO Period place YOSHISUKE(1) as being SOSHU 
TOMISHI, a MASAMUNE student. MASAMUNE being irresistible, the 
EDO chronology then becomes:
                       _________________________
                       SAGAMI TOMISHI (YOSHISUKE(1) GEN-O 1319
                       __________|______________
                       SAGAMI TOMISHI (YOSHISUKE(2) EN-BUN 1356
                       __________|______
                       SHIMADA YOSHISUKE(3) O-EI 1394
                       __________|______
                       SHIMADA YOSHISUKE(4) EI-KYO 1429

 - Legends. EDO writing made surreal poetry of all history. 
The presently understood facts have YOSHISUKE(1) in KO-SHO 1455.

THEREFORE:         
______________
BIZEN IYETOSHI SHO-O 1288    BIZEN tradition passes down 
______________                   to SUE-SOSHU era SURUGA.
BIZEN IYETSUGU SHO-WA 1312       
 _|_                                            
  |_______________________                      
__|______  -brothers-  ___|____                 
YOSHISUKE(1)           SUKEMUNE BUN-AN 1444     
  | KO-SHO 1455        ___|____               
  |                    SUKEHIRO EN-TOKU 1489  
  |____________________________
__|______                   ___|____      
YOSHISUKE(2) MEI-O 1492     SADAHIRO(1) MEI-O 1492  
  | School continues          To SAGAMI: EI-SHO 1504
  |  See following           
  |___________________ _____________ ___________________________
__|______          ___|___       ___|____                       |
YOSHISUKE(3)       DENSUKE       TERUSUKE(1) EI-ROKU 1558       |
  | TEN-MON 1532   EI-ROKU 1558     |_____________              |
__|_______                       ___|____     ____|____         |
YOSHISUKE(4)                     TERUSUKE(2)  SUKEMITSU         |
TEN-SHO 1573                        - TEN-SHO 1573 -            |
     ____________________________ _____________ ________________|
____|_____    - brothers -   ____|____      ___|____     
YOSHITSUNA(1) TEN-MON 1532   YOSHIKUNI      KUNISUKE(1) To MIKAWA
____|_____                   TEN-MON 1532   TEN-MON 1532
YOSHITSUNA(2) TEN-SHO 1573 
Shimada Yoshisuke

Sotheby's London
Yoshisuke
Nagasa: 76.7cm

Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, Funbari Koshizori, Ko-Kissaki.
Itame Hada has Masame and Ji-Nie.
Hoso-Suguha in Nioi and fine Nie.
Hoso-Sugu Boshi to Ko-Maru Kaeri.
Ubu Kurijiri nakago has one Mekugi-ana.
   Yoshisuke Saku

Shimada Yoshisuke


Shimada Yoshisuke
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 2 Sun 5 Bu (68.17cm)
Sori: 5 Bu (1.5cm)
Moto-haba: 1 Sun (3.05cm)
Saki-haba: 7 Bu 8 Rin (2.36cm)
Kissaki-naga: 2 Sun 5 Bu (7.57cm)
Moto-kasane: 2 Bu 5 Rin (0.75)
Saki-kasane: 1 Bu 5 Rin (0.45)
Nakago: 5 Sun 6 Bu (17.11cm)

Shinogi-tsukuri, Mitsu-mune Sakizori Sengoku Sugata Katana, with Strong, elongated Chu-Kissaki. Strong Bo-Hi has carved Koshi Kurikara Dragon on Omote, Sanko Tsuka-Ken, Vajra handle and Dragon on reverse.
Itame Hada that runs. Ji-Nie is dappled.
Deep Nioi-Fukashi and Ko-Nie Notare Gunome Togari Ba finds Hako, box forms in the mid. Ko-Ashi defines while Sunagashi streams through figures.
Midare Boshi to Ko-Maru.
Ubu Nakago with two Mekugi-ana. Kurijiri and signed in the Ji:
           Yoshisuke Saku
           Tai-Ei Rokunen Hin-no-e Inu
               ~ "Year of the Dog" ~    1526
SURUGA - SHIMADA School 
_________
YOSHISUKE(2) MEI-O 1492 See previous
    |________________________ _______________________ __________
____|____                  __|_____               ___|____      |
TERUYOSHI(1) EI-ROKU 1558  HIROSUKE(1)            MOTOSUKE      |
____|____                    | TEN-MON 1532       KO-JI 1555    |
TERUYOSHI(2) TEN-SHO 1573    |____________ _____________        |
                           __|_____    ___|____     ____|____   |
                           HIROSUKE(2) KUNISUKE(2)  HIROMITSU   |
                             - TEN-SHO 1573 -       GEN-KI 1570 |
    __________________________ _________________________________|
___|____                   ___|____                             |
SUKEMUNE(1) TEN-MON 1532   SADAHIRO(2) From SAGAMI TEN-MON 1532 |
___|____                   ___|____                             |
SUKEMUNE(2) TEN-SHO 1573   YASUHIRO EI-ROKU 1558                |
SHINANO JU - KUNIHIRO DEN                                       |
     ___________________________ _______________________________|
____|____                   ____|_____                  
YOSHIYUKI(1) TEN-MON 1532   YOSHISHIGE(1) TEN-MON 1532   
____|____                   ____|_____    
YOSHIYUKI(2) TEN-SHO 1573   YOSHISHIGE(2) TEN-SHO 1573 


________                   ________
NOBUYUKI(1) EI-SHO 1504    SADASUKE(1) EI-SHO 1504   
___|____                   ___|____                  
NOBUYUKI(2) TEN-MON 1532   SADASUKE(2) EI-ROKU 1558  

________                   ________             
TOMOYASU TAI-EI 1521       MOTONARI TEN-MON 1532
___|____                   ________                         
TOMOYASU EI-ROKU 1558      IYETSUGU From TOTOMI KEI-CHO 1596
                           (f: TORAAKI) 


YOSHISUKE(1)KO-SHO: NIE-DEKI GUNOME-MIDARE and HITATSURABA. 
        SAGAMI TOMITSUGU KEM-MU, and his predecessor TOMISHI, are
        confused with this smith. Both are earlier.
    MEI: YOSHISUKE
         YOSHISUKE SAKU

   ~BUNGI Triad~           See MURAMASA & HEIANJO NAGAYOSHI 
YOSHISUKE(2) MEI-O: Made KATANA, WAKIZASHI, and TANTO. Wide body,
        elongated KISSAKI or normal-width with CHU-KISSAKI are 
        seen. Slightly UCHI-ZORI, 6 or 7 SUN TANTO or curved 9 
        SUN. ITAME is standing MASAME. YAKIBA is NIOI and 
        MURA-NIE SUGUHA, GUNOME, NOTARE-MIDARE or HITATSURA BA.
        YOSHISUKE went to ODAWARA for work opportunity and to
        advance his style as the new SOSHU.
        
Appraisal Note: Shimada, Shitahara and others, of "Soshu style" were Soshu. 
They are as part of Soshu as if they were listed as living in Sagami.
                                               See SOSHU
  
He gave his school, and the SENGOKU, a unique style-
blending. A mix of the ongoing SOSHU with their BIZEN 
roots was exemplified by a MINO/SENGO HAKO-MIDARE BA 
concurrent with contemporary, ISE MURAMASA. 
MEI: YOSHISUKE
         YOSHISUKE SAKU
         SUNSHU SHIMADA JU YOSHISUKE SAKU 
 
BUNGI Triad



Katakiri Yoshisuke
 
NAGASA: 27.1cm 
MU-SORI 
MOTO-HABA: 2.3cm 
NAKAGO: 11cm 
KATAKIRI BA (beveled OMOTE, HIRA URA), MITSU-MUNE, SUN-NOBI (elongated) 
TSUKURI UBU TANTO. Medium HI on both sides but having an unusual 
4cm BO-HI that widens the URA groove in the lower. 
The HAMON is YAHAZU-MIDARE "Arrow Notch", KO-NOTARE BA in a deepening 
NIOI HABUCHI with NIE and SUNAGASHI. There are "Smoke" HOTSURE dotting 
figures and slight SHIMABA pulls occasionally. The valleys drop to the 
HA through the lower. 
This work is very typical, in kind, to contemporary JI-DAI, MAGOROKU 
KANEMOTO. 
The smooth NAKAGO has good color with KATTE-SAGARI YASURI file marks 
still visible on all planes and signed: 
                                  YOSHISUKE




















Osoraku Sukemune  - Sword of Katagiri Katsumoto

Osoraku Sukemune
Nagasa: 7 Sun 6 Bu (23cm)
Sori: 2 Bu (0.6cm)
Moto-haba: 8 Bu (2.6cm)
Nakago: 2 Sun 9 Bu (8.5cm)

First worn by Shingen, it then became the treasured possession of Katagiri Katsumoto.
Having distinguished himself at Shizugatake, he later became Stewart of Hideyori's youth and the Toyotomi House. Intrigue caused his expulsion from whence he watched their affairs flounder. He died 20 days after Osaka burned.

Starkly elongated Osoraku-tsukuri, with an exaggerated Sakizori is so unusual, it has its shape engraved in Kana "O So Ra Ku" on Omote. Koshi Nibi straddles the Shinogi on Ura. The Osoraku is marked by its giant O-Kissaki with the Yokote in the middle of the blade. This sword was the inspiration for many Shinto and Shin-Shinto Osoraku works of the future.
Running Ko-Mokume with JiNie.
Yahazu Arrows are in a slurred Midare where Tobiyaki is pulled and stretched with Hotsure. Ko-Nie dresses and Nioi is Fukashi.
Upper becomes busy to find Tsuki-age Boshi.
Ubu, three Mekugi-ana and signed across the Shinogi.
                       Sukemune		 

SURUGA - SHIMADA School
YOSHISUKE(3) TEN-MON: SHICHIROZAEMON. It is thought he first 
        signed TERUYOSHI. There is reference that mentions he 
        learned BIZEN style forging techniques from the father
        and son team of IYETOSHI/IYETSUGU. His 50 year working
        career offered the same unique style-combination of 
        YOSHISUKE(2). The differentiator is wide blades and an
        apparent fondness to contrast his product against that
        of BUNGO TAKADA.
    MEI: YOSHISUKE
         YOSHISUKE SAKU
         SUNSHU SHIMADA JU YOSHISUKE

YOSHISUKE(4) TEN-SHO: GOJOSEIBE. Made swords for the TAKEDA. His
        technical career follows the pattern of YOSHISUKE(3),
        learning BIZEN style from IYETOSHI and son, IYETSUGU.
        ITAME HADA. SUGUHA, GUNOME with TOGARI. 
    MEI: YOSHISUKE
         SUNSHU JU YOSHISUKE
         SUNSHU SHIMADA JU YOSHISUKE SAKU

SUKEMUNE BUN-AN (br: YOSHISUKE 1): One theory has SUKEMUNE 
        traveling from BIZEN with YOSHISUKE, merely a SHIMADA
        branch line. O-MIDARE and HITATSURA BA.
    MEI: SUKEMUNE
         SUKEMUNE SAKU
         

SUKEMUNE(1) TEN-MON (f: YOSHISUKE): GOJOKUZAEMON. TEN-MON 1532 to
        EI-ROKU 1558. SUKEMUNE was thought to have been from
        BIZEN as his style reflects OSAFUNE. The tradition was
        supplied from BIZEN technocrats, IYETOSHI and son, 
        IYETSUGU the supposed teachers of YOSHISUKE(3). Made 
        KATANA and small TANTO, some with HORIMONO. SUGUHA, 
        GUNOME-MIDARE and HITATSURA BA.
    MEI: SUKEMUNE
         SUNSHU SHIMADA JUNIN SUKEMUNE SAKU
         SUNSHU SHIMADA JUNIN SUKEMUNE TSUKURU

SUKEMUNE(2) TEN-SHO:  HIKOHACHI. Transferred to MATSUSHIRO in
        SHINANO for the tutelage of SHINANO-no-KAMI KUNIHIRO. His
        son continued in the KUNIHIRO School. Grandson is 
        KICHIUEMON SUKEMUNE, who is known as KUNIKIYO(1). 
    MEI: SUKEMUNE
         SUKEMUNE SAKU

MOTOSUKE TEN-MON (t:YOSHISUKE): Made wide body with elongated 
        KISSAKI. His light steel is a running KO-ITAME, MASAME 
        mix that stands. MURA-NIE in NIOI-DEKI stand on SUGUHA,
        NOTARE-MIDARE, Open GUNOME-MIDARE or HITATSURA where 
        SUNAGASHI is seen.
    MEI: MOTOSUKE 
         SUNSHU SHIMADA MOTOSUKE

Shimada Sukemune

Nagasa: 2 Shaku 2 Sun 7 Bu (68.7cm)
Sori: 7 Bu (2.1cm)
Moto-haba: 1 Sun 1 Bu (3.33cm)
Saki-haba: 8 Bu 1 Rin (2.45cm)
Kissaki-naga: 1 Sun 7 Bu (5.15cm)
Nakago: 5 Sun 5 Bu (17.11cm)

Sengoku Sugata. Shinogi-tsukuri, Maru-mune Sakizori, elongated Chu-Kissaki. Bo-Hi from upper to mid resolves in Marudome. Omote has Bonji and Suken, Ura has Kurikara and Vajra sword.
Tightly knit and running Itame Hada has JiNie.
Gunome-Togari Ba in Ko-Nie and Ko-Ashi rolls on an Asaki sea.
Midare Boshi finds Ko-maru turn, with Hakikake.
Referred as a Tachi because of TachiMei Nakago, however, it is likely Ura-Mei Katana.
Kiri-cut Jiri, three Mekugi-ana and signed in the middle:
            Sukemune

Shimada Sukemune

 

SURUGA - SHIMADA School
KUNISUKE(1) TEN-MON (f: YOSHISUKE): Made swords in MIKAWA.
    MEI: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU KUNISUKE

HIROSUKE(1) TEN-MON (f:YOSHISUKE):  "Grandeur" has been used to
        describe his powerful, wide bladed O-KISSAKI SUGATA.
       Examples of Hirosuke are famous for the most 
       imposing Sugata of the school, many resembling 
       Soshu-Den Nambokucho Dambira. Hirosuke works are 
       considered superior to Sukemune.        

        ITAME is MASAME. Strong JI-NIE. HIRO-SUGUHA, O-MIDARE,
        NOTARE, GUNOME-MIDARE with valleys or GUNOME-CHOJI BA. 
           MURA-NIE.
    MEI: HIROSUKE
         HIROSUKE SAKU
         SUNSHU SHIMADA JU HIROSUKE

KUNISUKE(2) TEN-SHO (f:HIROSUKE): NIOI is tightly held to the
        line. SUGU KO-MIDARE,GUNOME-MIDARE KO-GUNOME MIDARE and 
        HITATSURA BA. HORIMONO.
    MEI: KUNISUKE SAKU
         SUNSHU SHIMADA JU KUNISUKE

SADAHIRO(1) MEI-O (f: YOSHISUKE): Transfers to ODAWARA, SAGAMI in
           EI-SHO 1504. Possibly the same as the 2nd who returned
           to make swords in TEN-MON 1532. ITAME HADA. SUGUHA or
           KO-MIDARE BA.
    MEI: SOSHU SADAHIRO
         SOSHU JU SADAHIRO         
         SOSHU JU SADAHIRO SAKU

SADAHIRO(2) TEN-MON (t: YOSHISUKE): Son returns from ODAWARA to
           apprentice under YOSHISUKE. FUJI-GORI SHIMOKATA JU. 
    MEI: FUJI-GORI SHIMOKATA JU SADAHIRO
         SUNSHU FUJI-GORI SHIMOKATA JU SADAHIRO SAKU

YASUHIRO EI-ROKU (f: SADAHIRO 2): SOSHU YASUHIRO was son of SOSHU
        YASUKUNI and studied under SADAHIRO(1). The 2nd SADAHIRO
        returned to SURUGA. This is his son. ITAME. GUNOME-
        MIDARE, NOTARE-MIDARE with TOBI. 2nd: TEN-SHO.
    MEI: YASUHIRO

SANEIYE KYO-ROKU: SANEIYE lived in KAI. YOSHISUKE School.
    MEI: SANEIYE SAKU

TERUSUKE(1) EI-ROKU (f: YOSHISUKE): Youngest son. SUGUHA and
           GUNOME-MIDARE HA.

TERUSUKE(2) TEN-SHO: SUE-SOSHU Style.
_________
SUKEMITSU TEN-SHO: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU SUKEMITSU


TERUYOSHI(1) EI-ROKU (f: YOSHISUKE 2): ITAME with MASAME. SUGUHA
        and GUNOME HA.
    MEI: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU TERUYOSHI

TERUYOSHI(2) TEN-SHO: SHIMADA JU TERUYOSHI

Shimada Hirosuke
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 4 Sun 9 Bu (75.44cm)
Sori: 7 Bu (2.1cm)
Moto-haba: 1 Sun 1 Bu (3.33cm)
Saki-haba: 9 Bu 4 Rin (2.5cm)
Kissaki-naga: 1 Sun 9 Bu (5.9cm)
Moto-kasane: 2 Bu 8 Rin (0.84)
Saki-kasane: 2 Bu 5 Rin (0.6)
Nakago: 6 Sun (12.2cm)

Sengoku Sugata. Wide blade, Sakizori, Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune to O-Kissaki.
Tightly knit Ko-Itame hada has JiNie.
Th4e lower shows high-rising Kawazu Choji-Midare Ba while the upper restrains, somewhat in Ko-Nie Gunome-Midare Togari Ba with Tobi-yaki and Sunagashi. Hamon shows a few small Ko-Ashi.
Midare Boshi has Tsuki-age Hakikake while Ura is Ko-Maru.
Ubu, two Mekugi-ana and signed on the Ji.
           Hirosuke


Shimada Hirosuke

 


SURUGA - SHIMADA School

YOSHITSUNA(1) TEN-MON (t: SOSHU TSUNAHIRO, f: SHIMADA YOSHISUKE):
        Traveled to ODAWARA for the teachings of TSUNAHIRO. Also
        made swords in KOFU and TOTOMI. ITAME HADA with MASAME. 
        O-MIDARE BA and undulating GUNOME-MIDARE HA.
    MEI: YOSHITSUNA
         YOSHITSUNA SAKU
         KOFU JU YOSHITSUNA
         SOSHU JU YOSHITSUNA

YOSHITSUNA(2) TEN-SHO: Made swords in MUTSU. Worked to KEI-CHO
        1596 period.
    MEI: YOSHITSUNA

YOSHIKUNI TEN-MON (t: YOSHISUKE, br: YOSHITSUNA): To EI-ROKU 1558. 
           ITAME HADA. SUGUHA, O-MIDARE NOTARE-MIDARE and GUNOME 
           patterns.
    MEI: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU YOSHIKUNI


YOSHIMITSU TEN-MON: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU YOSHIMITSU SAKU


NOBUYUKI(1) EI-SHO: ITAME HADA. NOTARE O-MIDARE BA. 2nd follows.
    MEI: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU NOBUYUKI

MOTONARI TEN-MON: TEN-MON 1532 to EI-ROKU 1558. From KAI. SOSHU
        style. See KAI.
    MEI: KOSHU JU MOTONARI

SADASUKE(2) EI-ROKU: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU SADASUKE

TOMOYASU(1) TAI-EI: ITAME HADA. NOTARE laid GUNOME-MIDARE HA and
        CHOJI BA. 
    MEI: TOMOYASU
         SUNSHU JU TOMOYASU
         SHIMADA JU TOMOYASU

         SUNSHU SHIMADA JU TOMOYASU

TOMOYASU(2) EI-ROKU: SUNSHU SHIMADA JU TOMOYASU

Bunkazai Hirosuke
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 2 Sun 5 Bu 4 Rin (69.3cm)
Sori: 6 Bu 6 Rin (2cm)
Moto-haba: 9 Bu 7 Rin (2.95cm)
Saki-haba: 6 Bu 9 Rin (2.1cm)
Moto-kasane: 2 Bu 4 Rin (0.75cm)
Saki-kasane: 2 Bu 3 Rin (0.7cm)
Nakago: 7 Sun 1 Bu 9 Rin (21.8cm)

Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, deeply Sakizori with elongated Chu-Kissaki.
Standing Itame-Hada that runs. There is JiNie and Chikei.
Yaki-haba is wide. Billowing Notare holds Soshu Gunome-Midare Ba in Ko-Nie. Ashi defines while Sunagashi streams.
Deep Fukashi Boshi has Ko-Maru turning to a long fall.
Ubu Maru-mune Nakago has three Mekugi-ana.

Signed:
      Shimada Hirosuke Oite Koshu Saku zori
      Ei-Roku Futatsu Ki Ni-Gatsu Kichinichi		 



SURUGA - SHIMADA School



Shimada Hirosuke

Nagasa: 69.7 cm
Moto-haba: 3.2 cm
Saki-haba: 2.2 cm
Kasane: 7mm

With Ichimae Boshi in the manner of Go Yoshihiro
Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, extended Chu-Kissaki.
Fine Itame with Ji-nie, Chikei, Jifu-Utsuri and Sumi-hada on Omote
Slight Notare line holds Ashi defined Gunome Midare Ba.

Boshi is Ichimai 

Soshu style Nakago has one Mekugi-ana

Signed:
      Shimada Hirosuke





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