Ccormorant Fishing 鵜飼 Fittings Wakizashi, Kikuchi Tsunesada 菊池序定 signed Fuchi

This is a very rare Fuchikashira and Menuki with a depiction of Cormorant Fishing (Ukai 鵜飼い).
Fishing takes place at night.
The painting shows a fisherman holding a torch and a rope to which a cormorant is tied, while the cormorant is catching a fish.

This is a traditional Japanese fishing method of catching fish using domesticated cormorants.

It has a history of over 1300 years and has been passed down to the present day.

The blade with its magnificent Chohi-Hamon is a sight to behold.

The Tsuba is a Nanban Style Tsuba with Senbikizaru (千匹猿), a depiction of many monkeys.

Signature : Mumei (Unsigned)
Nagasa : 398mm (15.67 in.) 
Sori : 6mm (0.24 in.) 
Total length : 610mm (24.02 in.) 
Motohaba : 24.3mm (0.96 in.) 
Sakihaba : 13.9mm (0.55 in.) 
Motokasane : 5.4mm (0.21 in.) 
Sakikasane : 3.9mm (0.15 in.) 
Blade Weight : 259g
Total Weight : 557g