Kokuho (National Treasure) NAGINATA Inscribed BIZEN-no-KUNI OSAFUNE-JUNIN NAGAMITSU-TSUKURU

Dr. Homa's Comment's: Only a very few naginata examples remain in existence from the Kamakura period. They are generally characterized by the plain shape not as extremely wide in the tip as those works made in and after the Muromachi period. What is rather unusual for Nagamitsu's work about this naginata is the presence of hamon in saka-gokoro and the more outstanding nie display, which may be due to the form of naginata requiring different tempering techniques from the tachi form. This blade is very valuable as a perfectly preserved naginata example of Nagamitsu, bearing a noble dignity Kanzan's Commentary: Because of the rarity of Nagamitsu's naginata works, as well as the perfect intact state and the clearly incised mei inscription, this naginata is most highly valued. The questions as to whether Nagamitsu's examples with this long mei and those with the niji mei are works of the same person and whether the niji mei and the long mei, in case they are works by the same hands, were made at about the same time, still await solution pending further research.

            (Picture & Description from Showa Daimeto Zufu)