Suruga no Kami Shimada Hirosuke Katana
駿河守嶋田広助　刀

Item No. TKC002

• Period：Koto - Late Muromachi (around Tensho Era 1573 - 1592)

• Designation: Hozon Touken

• Mei (Signature): Suruga no Kami Shimada Hirosuke
  駿河守嶋田住

• Nakago - Suriage Mei, original shallow Kattesagari (slanted file marks) pattern

• Mekugiana - 4 holes, with the original mekugiana at the bottom

• Nagasa - 68.2cm

• Sori - 1.4cm

• Motohaba - 3.1cm

• Sakihaba - 2.3cm

• Kissaki - 4.3cm

• Nakago length -

Price: ¥ 550,000
(Consignment Sale)

The Shimada School of swordsmiths

emerged in Shimada, Suruga Province (modern-day Shizuoka Prefecture), during the middle of the Muromachi period. Founded by Yoshisuke, the Shimada school flourished through a lineage of talented smiths and remained active until the Edo period. The school is recognized for its artistry, innovation, and influence, drawing upon the traditions of the Soshu and Seki schools while maintaining its distinctive style.
Shimada Yoshisuke, the founder, is believed to have been active as early as the Kosho era (1455–1457). The school reached prominence through generations of smiths, with later generations such as Sukemune and Hirosuke contributing significantly to its reputation. Hirosuke, a student of the third Yoshisuke, stands out as one of the most accomplished smiths of the school, crafting swords that exhibit a blend of technical precision and artistic flair.

Blades from the Shimada school are characterized by their robust sugata (shape), wide mihaba (blade width), and extended kissaki (point), reminiscent of the dynamic style of the Nambokucho period. Their hamon (temper line) often features notare mixed with gunome, o-notare, gunome-midare, ko-midare, or even hitatsura—a complex style associated with the Soshu school. This variety showcases the Shimada smiths' mastery of intricate tempering techniques.

The school’s craftsmanship frequently displays a fine itame-hada (wood grain pattern), prominent chikei (bright lines), and abundant ji-nie (small crystalline particles), lending their blades both beauty and durability. Notably, Hirosuke's work exemplifies these features, with bold o-midare hamon and dynamic boushi (tip temper), underscoring his skill as the foremost smith of the school.

This katana is striking example of the craftsmanship of the Shimada school, a lineage of swordsmiths that thrived in Suruga Province during the mid to late Muromachi period. Known for their bold and robust blades, Shimada smiths followed the traditions of the Soshu-den while incorporating their own distinctive techniques. This sword, forged by Shimada Hirosuke, exemplifies the school’s mastery of elegant yet powerful blades designed for high-ranking samurai.

Despite having been shortened by 10cm (suriage), the katana retains an impressive nagasa (blade length) of 68.2cm. The sword’s mei (signature) is a rare long inscription, a feature typically reserved for special order blades commissioned by high-ranking samurai. The katana’s shape remains imposing, with a wide base and sakihaba (blade width at the tip) that complements its large kissaki (point), measuring 4.3cm.

This katana embodies both elegance and strength, with a dynamic shape and powerful presence that reflects the finest work of Shimada Hirosuke.

A Closer Look: The Jigane – The True Highlight of This Katana

While the strong, robust sugata (shape) of this katana is undeniably impressive, the true highlight, in my personal opinion, lies in the jigane (surface steel pattern). The jihada of this blade is exceptionally apparent and beautifully crafted, making it a standout feature that elevates this sword beyond just its bold shape. The clarity of the grain pattern is mesmerizing, and its visible texture showcases the skill and precision of Shimada Hirosuke.

This katana displays a combination of Itame-nagare and Mokume jihada, which gives the steel surface a flowing wood grain appearance with burl-like patterns. The Itame-nagare flows smoothly along the blade, while Mokume forms circular burl patterns that add depth and character to the blade's surface. Additionally, Jinie (fine crystalline particles) cover the steel, giving the blade a shimmering appearance, while Chikei (darker, wavy lines of steel) run through the surface, enhancing the visual appeal and adding layers of complexity to the steel pattern.

The jigane is not just an aesthetic feature—it also speaks to the quality of the forging process. The clean and well-forged grain structure seen on this katana indicates the use of high-quality tamahagane and meticulous craftsmanship, both hallmarks of the Shimada school.

The hamon on this katana is a shallow notare. The combination of shallow notare and gunome is a signature element seen in Shimada school blades, reflecting influences from Soshu-den swordmaking techniques.

On the omote side (front), the bōshi follows a notare-komaru style, curving gently along the tip and finishing with a short rounded turn back toward the spine.

On the ura side (back), the bōshi takes a sugu-komaru form, running straight before turning short and rounded at the tip.

This Shimada Suruga no Kami Hirosuke katana showcases a strong and robust shape, with a wide mihaba and large kissaki that reflect the bold style of the late Muromachi period. The jigane is one of the standout features—highly visible and beautifully crafted, making the surface steel pattern a delight to observe.

With no significant flaws and excellent craftsmanship, this katana is a great value at an affordable price. It’s a solid choice for any collector looking for a well-preserved and visually striking piece from the Shimada school. Comes with Copper Habaki.