Oshigata Gallery

Oshigata is the traditional means, used by Japanese
appraisers since before the Japanese middle ages, to record all the
metallurgical activities in the steel of a Japanese sword that make it unique
to any other sword.  This acquired skill is passed down esoterically from
teacher to student, using traditional techniques and tools, secret to that
particular linage of appraisers.

Even when using modern technology, photography alone cannot record all of the
necessary details required to satisfactorily identify it from a similar sword
by the same smith or a forgery. This is even more so in the case of unsigned
swords. Every detail is meticulously recorded to scale: The file marks on the
Tang, along with the cut of the strokes of the inscription, the shape of the
tang, the shape of the monouchi (the first 30cm from the tip of the blade) or
the whole blade in the case of full length oshigata. The hamon (the crystalline
activities in the hardened edge) and any other activities or identifying marks
that take place in any other part of your sword.

This is an excellent traditionally hand crafted record to have of your sword. These are absolutely essential as identification in the case of stolen or lost swords (especially for laymen investigators) and are very beneficial when it comes to insuring blades and collections.  Once you have an oshigata of your sword you will no longer have to run the risk of damage or loss by transporting your sword every time that you want an opinion or to illustrate a particular activity. Oshigata can also be conveniently scanned and sent electronically all around the world, saving you money on wasted postage and appraisal costs or potential polishing costs.

In addition to all the above, oshigata are an excellent method of study not only for the viewer, but for the artist too. Many major sword publications use oshigata as a means of illustrating sword’s characteristics for articles and for kantei (appraisal) practice. I hope that these oshigata are of benefit to your study of the Japanese sword. I will try to update the gallery as often as possible. Please click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.

Ko-Bizen Yoshikane	Shintogo Kunimitsu	Omiya Morokage	Motoshige
Shodai Muramasa	Mino Kanefusa	Sandai Muramasa	Horikawa Kunihiro
Omi no Kami Sukenao	Yondai Tadayoshi	Mutsu no Kami Kanenobu	Ishido Korekazu
Taikei Naotane	Iga no Kami Kinmichi	Yokoyama Sukenaga	Koyama Munetsugu
Koyama Munetsugu	Koyama Munetsugu	Miyamoto Kanenori	Miyairi Shohei
Aizu Shigetsugu	Seki Kaneoto	Noshu Ju Masayuki	(Yasukuni) Yasuhiro
Kuniie I	Kanenori (Seki)	Yoshihara Yoshindo	Matsuba Kunimasa
Takano Yukimitsu	Shinano no Kami Hisahiro	Komiya Tessai (Kunimitsu I)	Komiya Shiro Kunimitsu I
Komiya Kuniyasu	Komiya Kuniharu	Komiya Kunitada	Komiya Yasumitsu
Komiya Yasumitsu	Komiya Shiro Kunimitsu II	Komiya Kokuten