Naoe Shizu
直江志津 (Naoe Shizu)
Kaneuji’s followers at Naoe: the Sagami style turned Mino in the Nanbokuchō period, with notare, gunome and deep nie.
Style and characteristics
Wide Nanbokuchō blades with a long kissaki, an itame jigane with some masame and a notare hamon mixed with gunome, of deep nie, with kinsuji and sunagashi. It is the bridge between the Sagami style and later Mino.
History
After the death of Shizu Saburō Kaneuji, his pupils left Shizu and settled at Naoe; among them are Kanetomo, Kanenobu and Kanetsugu. Many unsigned blades are attributed today to Naoe Shizu, and not a few hold the NBTHK rank of jūyō tōken.