Articles |HORIKAWA KUNIHIRO 堀川国広
Read moreKunihiro (国広) is considered by many to be the foremost master of all Shinto sword makers in terms of both…
Articles |CHIKUZEN JITSUA 筑前實阿
Read moreChikuzen Jitsua (筑前實阿) is descended from the lineage of Ryôsai (良西), Nyûsai (入西) and Sairen Kuniyoshi (西蓮国吉), and he strictly…
Articles |THE NOBUKUNI HA 信国派
Read moreThe first generation Nobukuni (信国) was from Yamashiro Province (山城国). He was the son of Ryôkai Hisanobu (了戒久信) and he…
Articles |THE YAMATO SENJÛIN SCHOOL 大和千手院系
Read moreThe Yamato (大和) school of sword making originated in the Yamato Province and gave rise to the five oldest sword…
Articles |ISHIDÔ MITSUHIRA 石堂光平
Read moreThe Ishidô (石堂) school originated at the Sekido Temple in Ômi Province around the Kanei period (1624). From there the…
Articles |THE BIZEN YOSHII SCHOOL 備前吉井派
Read moreThe Yoshii (吉井派)school was active in Yoshii, near Osafune, beginning in the Nanbokuchô period. Tamenori (為則) is said to have…
Articles |SATSUMA YASUSADA 薩摩安貞
Read moreWhile swords were produced in the Satsuma Kuni from the Heian Jidai, they were primarily produced by katana kaji referred…
Articles |THE HOSHÔ SCHOOL 保昌
Read moreThe Hoshô (保昌) school is one of the five schools of the Yamato Den (大和伝) They are said to have…
Articles |GODAI TADAYOSHI 五代忠吉
Read moreGodai Tadayoshi (五代忠吉), the fifth generation, was born in 1696. He was the son of the Omi Daijo Tadayoshi (近江大掾忠吉). …
Articles |THE HIZEN MUNETSUGU SMITHS 肥前宗次
Read moreThe first generation Hizen Munetsugu (肥前宗次) was originally called Sakai Mitsuemon or Sakai Sanuemon (境三右衛門). His first residence was in…
Articles |THE ENJU SCHOOL 延寿系
Read moreAround the end of the Kamakura era, a smith by the name of Hiromura (弘村) left the Yamato (大和) area…
Articles |THE TADATSUNA SCHOOL 忠綱系
Read moreAsai Omi no Kami Tadatsuna (浅井近江守忠綱) moved from Himeji in Harima province to Osaka around 1648. He then became one…
