Enju
延寿派 (Enju-ha)
The Higo school born of Rai: the soft suguha of Kyoto carried to Kikuchi, in the service of the Kikuchi clan.
Style and characteristics
Very close to Rai: a ko-nie suguha, sometimes with ko-midare, over a ko-itame jigane with mokume and some masame, of a slightly darker, softer tone than Kyoto’s. The bōshi is usually ko-maru.
History
Tradition has it founded at the end of the Kamakura period by Kunimura, a grandson of Rai Kuniyuki on his mother’s side, who settled in Kikuchi. He was followed by Kunisuke, Kunitoki and Kuniyasu; the work is divided into Ko-Enju, Chū-Enju and Sue-Enju. A late branch gave rise at Tamana to the Dōtanuki school.