Sue Bizen  Late Muromachi period ( 1486)

Muromachi period was the period of warring states.In 1467, war which is called “Onin War” broke out between daimyo armies in capital. It was the beginning  of the ten year Onin war.

Though this Onin war ended in 1477, it was also the beginnig of the sengoku or “Warring States” which lasted  until 1568.

This Osafune Katsumitsu Munemitsu japanese sword was made  at such a period. It is designated by  the state as an important arts, so  export is controlled and forbidden to protect Japan’s cultural heritage.

length	63.0ｃｍ
curve	6分（2.1ｃｍ）
shape	縞造、三つ棟、身幅やや広く、元先の幅差に開きがそれほどつかず、踏ん張りがついて、反りやや深くつき、先反りがついて、中鋒。
jigane	板目肌に杢目肌を交えて、地沸が細かについて、地景入る。
hamon	丁子乱れを主張に互の目が交じり、足・葉さかんに入り、飛焼入り、処々砂流しかかり、総体に匂深く小沸がつく。
boshi	表裏、焼深く乱れこんで掃き掛ける。
engraving	指表：棒樋を丸留めにし、その下に三鈷柄剣。 指裏：棒樋を丸留めにし、その下に摩利支尊天の文字
stem	生ぶ茎、先刃上がりの深い栗尻、鑢目勝手下がり、目釘孔二、指表棟寄りに「備前国住長船勝光宗光」、その横に「備中於草壁」を切り、指裏棟寄りに年紀を切る。