Osafune Nagashige
長重 (Nagashige)
An Osafune smith in Bizen of the early Nanbokuchō period, of the Chōgi group; he is known for a tantō of 1334 in the Sōshū manner, protected by the State.
Profile
Nagashige worked at Osafune and belongs to the Chōgi group, a branch distinct from Kanemitsu's main line; the encyclopedia that Kotobank reproduces names him with Chōgi, Nagamori and Kanenaga. His dates of life are not known.
His most cited work is a tantō signed «Bishū Osafune jū Nagashige» and dated with the sexagenary year kōjutsu (甲戌), which corresponds to 1334 (Kenmu 1). The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it in a private collection, protected by the State, and presents it as an outstanding example of the Sōshū manner worked in Bizen.
Notable works
- Tantō signed «Bishū Osafune jū Nagashige» and dated 1334, with a 26 cm blade, in a private collection; property protected by the State, on Bunka Isan Online.