Sources

On this page

Sources

Competitions and official lists

Zen Nihon Tōshōkai (全日本刀匠会), members of the Kyūshū section
NBTHK, results of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2025
NBTHK, results of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2026
NBTHK, catalogue of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2022
NBTHK, catalogue of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2023
NBTHK, catalogue of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2024
NBTHK, catalogue of the inaugural exhibition of the Sword Museum (新作名刀展, Shinsaku Meitōten, 2017 fiscal year)
NBTHK, 『刀剣美術』 (Tōken Bijutsu) no. 749 (June 2019): 2019 results
NBTHK, mukansa regulations (無鑑査選任規程, mukansa sennin kitei)
NBTHK, examination criteria (審査基準, shinsa kijun): works by living makers are not examined
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 5th Omamori-gatana (2010)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 6th Omamori-gatana (2011)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 8th Omamori-gatana (2013)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 10th Omamori-gatana (2015)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 11th Omamori-gatana (2016)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 12th Omamori-gatana (2017)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 13th Omamori-gatana (2018)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 14th Omamori-gatana (2019)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 14th Omamori-gatana: public vote
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 15th Omamori-gatana (2021)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, special omamori-gatana exhibition (February 2021)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 16th Omamori-gatana (2023)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 16th Omamori-gatana: public vote
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 18th Omamori-gatana (2025)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, 19th Omamori-gatana (2026)
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, Kyūshū “日本刀の日” (Nihontō no hi, Japanese Sword Day), 2018: open day and signature engraving
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, “日本刀展” (Nihontōten, Japanese sword exhibition): “守るための道具” (mamoru tame no dōgu, a tool for protecting), Sasebo, 2024
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai, Tōshōkai News no. 24 (18 July 2025)

Institutions, press and references

He and those around him: social media, blogs and talks

His own posts on X: the workshop after the earthquake (28 July 2026), the hearths (17 and 19 August 2026) and the new hearth (10 and 20 September 2026)
X account of ふなっしー (Funasshī): video of his Sanchōmō at the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2021
note, 中村圭佑 (probable reading: Nakamura Keisuke), “あぁ、山鳥毛。” (“Ah, the Sanchōmō”), 3 October 2020
note, 中村圭佑 (probable reading: Nakamura Keisuke), “現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2025, 1: 作刀部門 (sakutō bumon, the forging section)”, 10 August 2025
武士道美術館 (Bushidō Bijutsukan), blog of 太田光柾 (probable reading: Ōta Kōsei): “木村日本刀剣鍛錬所を訪ねて” (“A visit to the Kimura workshop”), 23 April 2014
Video “刀匠ギャラリートーク” (Tōshō gyararī tōku), りん (Rin) channel, 11 October 2024: Komiya Kokuten and Kimura Kanemitsu
Channel of the dōjō 心風館 (probable reading: Shinpūkan): cutting test of 25 August 2013
NO!! MAGAZINE, video feature on the smith, June 2011
Maki Nagata, “KATANA ー木村兼光” (Katana, Kimura Kanemitsu), 27 February 2014
Monograph on Kawashima Kazuki, on this same site: the original Sanchōmō
Kawashima Kazuki.

Image credits

The Kimura family tree, in the sale listing of the joint katana of 2022 (familia-kimura-arbol.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
A block of steel in the hand; that it is their own steel is our interpretation (2014) (forja-2014-bushidoart-07.jpg)
Author: 太田光柾 (probable reading: Ōta Kōsei), of the 武士道美術館 (Bushidō Bijutsukan). Rights: © 武士道美術館 (Bushidō Bijutsukan).
The visitor from the 武士道美術館 (Bushidō Bijutsukan), the father and Kanemitsu, at the forge (2014) (forja-2014-bushidoart-16.jpg)
Author: 太田光柾 (probable reading: Ōta Kōsei), of the 武士道美術館 (Bushidō Bijutsukan). Rights: © 武士道美術館 (Bushidō Bijutsukan).
The blocks of the new hearth (10 September 2026) (forja-2026-hodo-obras-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The rebuilt hearth (20 September 2026) (forja-2026-hodo-rehecho-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Two-handed hammering at the forge (a shop’s photo) (forja-comercio-1.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The father looks at a blade, at the forge (a shop’s photo) (forja-comercio-5.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
Engraving a signature, at the forge (a shop’s photo) (forja-comercio-7.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The card of the 2022 katana: the comment on the utsuri and the 新人賞 (Shinjinshō) of 2004 (fotograma-2022-katana-kunzan-ficha.jpg)
Author: 迫田貫路 (probable reading: Sakoda Kanji). Rights: © 迫田貫路 (probable reading: Sakoda Kanji).
The tantō of the 2023 Kanzanshō, in the manner of the Atsu Tōshirō (fotograma-2023-tanto-kanzan-entero.jpg)
Author: 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo). Rights: © 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo).
Kanemitsu engraves a signature at the Kokura exhibition (2025) (fotograma-2025-kanemitsu-meikiri-kokura.jpg)
Author: 【公式】全日本刀匠会チャンネル (Kōshiki Zen Nihon Tōshōkai channeru). Rights: © 【公式】全日本刀匠会チャンネル (Kōshiki Zen Nihon Tōshōkai channeru).
Kanemitsu in the July 2025 Tōshōkai News (fotograma-2025-kanemitsu-retrato-hoja.jpg)
Author: 【公式】全日本刀匠会チャンネル (Kōshiki Zen Nihon Tōshōkai channeru). Rights: © 【公式】全日本刀匠会チャンネル (Kōshiki Zen Nihon Tōshōkai channeru).
The katana of the 2025 Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō, at the Sword Museum (fotograma-2025-katana-takamatsu-entera.jpg)
Author: 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo). Rights: © 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo).
The official card of the 2025 katana: 69.8 cm, prize record and comment (fotograma-2025-katana-takamatsu-ficha.jpg)
Author: 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo). Rights: © 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo).
The 2025 katana: habaki and sankozuka-ken engraving over the bōhi (fotograma-2025-katana-takamatsu-horimono.jpg)
Author: 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo). Rights: © 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo).
The jigane of the 2025 katana: very marked mokume and chikei (fotograma-2025-katana-takamatsu-jigane.jpg)
Author: 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo). Rights: © 永野照男 (probable reading: Nagano Teruo).
Kanemitsu in front of his house and forge in Yatsushiro, in the Kumamoto prefecture feature (2019) (kanemitsu-2019-firedup-retrato-1.jpg)
Author: Kumamoto Fired Up! (Kumamoto prefecture and city). Rights: © Kumamoto Prefecture and City.
Kanemitsu in front of the house and forge, in the prefecture feature (2019) (kanemitsu-2019-firedup-retrato-2.jpg)
Author: Kumamoto Fired Up! (Kumamoto prefecture and city). Rights: © Kumamoto Prefecture and City.
Kanemitsu, on a shop’s website (kanemitsu-retrato-comercio-1.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
Kanemitsu at the forge, in another shop’s sale listing (kanemitsu-retrato-comercio-2.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The father, Kanetsugu, on a shop’s website (kanetsugu-retrato-comercio-1.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The father, Kanetsugu, in another shop’s sale listing (kanetsugu-retrato-comercio-2.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The Yatsushiro Sea, seen from Minamata (mar-yatsushiro.jpg)
Author: 先従隗始 (probable reading: Senjū Kaishi). Licence: CC0 1.0.
Oshigata of the 2011 katana, in its sale listing (obra-2011-katana-oshigata.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
Registration of the 2016 katana, in its sale listing (obra-2016-katana-registro.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
Utsushi of Muramasa from 2021, in its sale listing (obra-2021-utsushi-muramasa.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The Kumamoto registration certificate of the joint katana of 2022, in its sale listing (obra-2022-gassaku-registro.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The 2025 katana with its card (photo by Nakamura Keisuke) (obra-2025-katana-takamatsu-note-1.jpg)
Author: 中村圭佑 (probable reading: Nakamura Keisuke), 刀箱師 (katana-bakoshi, sword-box maker), on note. Rights: © Nakamura Keisuke.
The jigane of the 2025 katana, up close (photo by Nakamura Keisuke) (obra-2025-katana-takamatsu-note-2.jpg)
Author: 中村圭佑 (probable reading: Nakamura Keisuke), 刀箱師 (katana-bakoshi, sword-box maker), on note. Rights: © Nakamura Keisuke.
The chidori jūmonji-yari, freshly forged (29 September 2026) (obra-2026-jumonji-yari-hizukuri-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The letter for the prize of the ambassador of Poland at the 19th Omamori-gatana (2026) (premio-2026-omamori-polonia-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The feature in “やつしろの風” (Yatsushiro no Kaze), December 2019 (prensa-2019-yatsushiro-no-kaze-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The weirs of the Kuma and the Shin-Maekawa (rio-kuma-azudes.jpg)
Author: そらみみ (Soramimi). Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
The mouth of the Kuma, at Yatsushiro (Landsat, 2014) (rio-kuma-desembocadura-landsat.jpg)
Author: USGS Landsat. Licence: Public domain.
The Kuma river basin (rio-kuma-mapa.jpg)
Author: KKharmony. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Kuma river at Sakamoto-machi, within the municipality of Yatsushiro (rio-kuma-sakamoto-1.jpg)
Author: hyolee2. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
The joint Sanchōmō of 2019, whole (sanchomo-2019-conjunto-hoja-1.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The joint Sanchōmō of 2019, in another view (sanchomo-2019-conjunto-hoja-3.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The koshirae of the joint Sanchōmō of 2019, in the manner of the Uesugi (sanchomo-2019-conjunto-koshirae-1.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
A freshly forged blade from the “challenge”, in his post of October 2020 (sanchomo-2020-hizukuri-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His 2020 Sanchōmō, at the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) of the Sword Museum (sanchomo-2020-utsushi-note-1.jpg)
Author: 中村圭佑 (probable reading: Nakamura Keisuke), 刀箱師 (katana-bakoshi, sword-box maker), on note. Rights: © Nakamura Keisuke.
The 2020 Sanchōmō, in another view, with its card (sanchomo-2020-utsushi-note-3.jpg)
Author: 中村圭佑 (probable reading: Nakamura Keisuke), 刀箱師 (katana-bakoshi, sword-box maker), on note. Rights: © Nakamura Keisuke.
The tang of the 2020 Sanchōmō: 肥後國八代住兼光作 (Higo no Kuni Yatsushiro-jū Kanemitsu saku) (sanchomo-2020-utsushi-note-4.jpg)
Author: 中村圭佑 (probable reading: Nakamura Keisuke), 刀箱師 (katana-bakoshi, sword-box maker), on note. Rights: © Nakamura Keisuke.
The second Sanchōmō commissioned by the shop, whole (sanchomo-hgk-1.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
The second Sanchōmō commissioned by the shop, in another view (sanchomo-hgk-2.jpg)
Photo: dealer in Japan.
Poster of the video 1E62uU_mrIg (video-1E62uU_mrIg.jpg)
Video still, © 武道武術 (budō bujutsu) 剣術体術 (kenjutsu taijutsu) 心風館 (probable reading: Shinpūkan).
Poster of the video kw0DmlNAEkA (video-kw0DmlNAEkA.jpg)
Video still, © 【公式】全日本刀匠会チャンネル (Kōshiki Zen Nihon Tōshōkai channeru).
Poster of the video o2Di9ogpXWw (video-o2Di9ogpXWw.jpg)
Video still, © 武道武術 (budō bujutsu) 剣術体術 (kenjutsu taijutsu) 心風館 (probable reading: Shinpūkan).
Poster of the video uSnZmyf9shA (video-uSnZmyf9shA.jpg)
Video still, © 武道武術 (budō bujutsu) 剣術体術 (kenjutsu taijutsu) 心風館 (probable reading: Shinpūkan).
Poster of the video uzcp6ybtbdI (video-uzcp6ybtbdI.jpg)
Video still, © 武道武術 (budō bujutsu) 剣術体術 (kenjutsu taijutsu) 心風館 (probable reading: Shinpūkan).
The habaki of a tachi, just arrived from the metalworker in Okayama (7 December 2017) (obra-2017-tachi-habaki-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Another tachi in progress, with its gold-plated habaki just arrived (16 December 2017) (obra-2017-tachi-nakago-habaki-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The shirasaya for a competition, in wood with tiger-striped grain, 虎杢 (toramoku) (6 January 2018) (obra-2018-shirasaya-toramoku-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A freshly hardened tantō, with a hamon of 逆丁子 (saka-chōji) (9 February 2018) (obra-2018-tanto-templado-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The tang of an exhibited tachi: 肥後國八代住兼光作 (Higo no Kuni Yatsushiro-jū Kanemitsu saku) (17 February 2018) (obra-2018-tachi-nakago-firma-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His tantō from the 12th お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai), 五席 (goseki) and 熊本放送賞 (Kumamoto Hōsō-shō), in the catalogue: 逆丁子 (saka-chōji) on steel from his own iron (25 April 2018) (obra-2018-tanto-omamori-catalogo-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
In the same catalogue, a tantō in suguha and its mounting, an aikuchi-koshirae with a hare before the moon in maki-e made by other craftsmen (25 April 2018) (obra-2018-aikuchi-luna-catalogo-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The chokutō, with a fine, tight jigane (17 April 2022) (obra-2022-chokuto-punta-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A polished tantō; in his view, the jigane shows his style (17 April 2022) (obra-2022-tanto-pulido-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The shirasaya of an ōdachi and of a tantō (15 May 2022) (obra-2022-shirasaya-odachi-tanto-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The shirasaya of his utsushi of the Sanchōmō, conceived as the mounting of the original (22 July 2022) (obra-2022-shirasaya-sanchomo-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A gilt tachi habaki with a pattern of 亀甲 (kikkō, tortoise shell) (6 August 2022) (obra-2022-tachi-habaki-kikko-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His utsushi of the Sanchōmō, half made (11 August 2022) (obra-2022-sanchomo-en-curso-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The tang of his work in the manner of the 蛍丸 (Hotarumaru): the name 来国俊 (Rai Kunitoshi), the prayer 蛍丸本歌発見祈願 (Hotarumaru honka hakken kigan, “that the original Hotarumaru may appear”) and his own signature, 肥後國兼光 (Higo no Kuni Kanemitsu) (17 August 2022) (obra-2022-hotarumaru-nakago-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The signature of an ōdachi of 3 shaku 4 sun (about 103 cm), just engraved (14 September 2022) (obra-2022-odachi-firma-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The 寸延び短刀 (sunobi tantō), with 差し込み (sashikomi) polish: 逆丁子 (saka-chōji) with midare-utsuri (3 July 2023) (obra-2023-tanto-sunobi-hamon-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A gold-plated copper tachi habaki, with a pattern of rhombuses (13 October 2023) (obra-2023-tachi-habaki-rombos-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A new sword, just polished, as a preview (22 March 2024) (obra-2024-habaki-greca-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A 共柄小刀 (tomogara kogatana, a knife and handle in one piece), with ginkgo leaves inlaid by the 肥後象嵌 (Higo zōgan) craftsman 稲田憲太郎 (probable reading: Inada Kentarō) (23 March 2024) (obra-2024-kogatana-ginkgo-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A two-piece habaki, the work of a good craftsman (27 August 2024) (obra-2024-habaki-dos-piezas-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A 肥後鎺 (Higo habaki) in two pieces, of gold-plated copper, for a hira-zukuri blade (6 October 2024) (obra-2024-hirazukuri-habaki-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The tantō on its return from the engraver: 素剣 (suken) and the bonji of 降三世明王 (Gōzanze Myōō) (7 October 2024) (obra-2024-tanto-bonji-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A tantō with a 振袖 (furisode) tang, with its habaki just arrived (2 November 2024) (obra-2024-tanto-furisode-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The shirasaya of a tachi and of a tantō, with the strip of smoked bamboo, 煤竹 (susudake), beside the mekugi (7 December 2024) (obra-2024-shirasaya-tachi-tanto-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A two-piece copper habaki, with a sober finish (25 April 2025) (obra-2025-tanto-habaki-cobre-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A new tachi of 2 shaku 7 sun (about 82 cm), just polished: suguha with small irregularities and midare-utsuri (15 June 2025) (obra-2025-tachi-pulido-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The oshigata of his katana of the Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō, an utsushi of the Suijingiri Kanemitsu, in 『刀剣美術』 (Tōken Bijutsu) (16 June 2025) (obra-2025-suijingiri-oshigata-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A new tantō, just polished (9 October 2025) (obra-2025-tanto-pulido-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A habaki of solid gilt silver, with a rock relief (10 January 2026) (obra-2026-habaki-roca-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A two-piece habaki: the inner piece, 下貝 (shitagai), of 赤銅 (shakudō), and the outer one, 上貝 (uwagai), of solid silver (17 January 2026) (obra-2026-habaki-shakudo-plata-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The signature of the tachi, engraved before its registration (18 January 2026) (obra-2026-tachi-firma-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
One of his works from the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) of 2026, an utsushi of the Sanchōmō and another of Aoe (20 April 2026) (obra-2026-gendai-hamon-1-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Another detail of his works from the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) of 2026: the hamon beside the habaki (20 April 2026) (obra-2026-gendai-hamon-2-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A signed tang, with its habaki; “if there are no obstacles, see you at some competition next year”, he writes (6 October 2026) (obra-2026-tanto-nakago-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The poster of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) of 2018 at the 刀剣博物館 (Tōken Hakubutsukan), where his tachi of the 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) was exhibited (30 November 2017) (premio-2017-cartel-gendai-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
大身槍 (ōmi-yari) spears and naginata by 同田貫 (Dōtanuki), at the appreciation meeting of the Kumamoto section; it is rare for so many to be brought together, he writes (22 April 2018) (exposicion-2018-kumamoto-dotanuki-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His utsushi of the Sanchōmō at the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) of 2020; the card reads 努力賞二席 (Doryokushō niseki) and 79.4 cm (26 September 2020) (premio-2020-sanchomo-ficha-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His tantō from the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) of 2021, 25.0 cm and 優秀賞二席 (Yūshūshō niseki): a clean suguha with 沸映り (nie-utsuri), in his words (11 September 2021) (premio-2021-tanto-ficha-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The NBTHK letters of 2022: 薫山賞 (Kunzanshō) for tachi and katana and 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) for tantō (5 August 2022) (premio-2022-cartas-nbthk-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
At the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) prize-giving of 2022, beside a display case (29 November 2022) (premio-2022-vitrina-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The stage of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) prize-giving of 2022; that year he won a special prize again (29 November 2022) (premio-2022-escenario-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The NBTHK letters of 2023: 寒山賞 (Kanzanshō) for tantō and 優秀賞五席 (Yūshūshō goseki) for tachi and katana, with utsushi of the Sanchōmō and of the Atsu Tōshirō (21 April 2023) (premio-2023-cartas-nbthk-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
With his friend and colleague 小宮 (Komiya), both with a special prize, at the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) prize-giving of 2023 (10 August 2023) (premio-2023-copas-komiya-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The tantō and its mounting from the 文部科学大臣賞 (Monbu Kagaku Daijin-shō) of the 16th お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai), at Sakaki (2 September 2023) (premio-2023-omamori-tanto-koshirae-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His work on the cover of the catalogue of the 16th お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai) (3 September 2023) (premio-2023-omamori-catalogo-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The poster of 日本刀の美 (Nihontō no bi), the exhibition of the Kyūshū section of the Zen Nihon Tōshōkai at Kokura Castle (20 October 2023) (exposicion-2023-kokura-cartel-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
At the prize-giving of the 16th お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai), at the 林原美術館 (Hayashibara Bijutsukan), beside his work (22 November 2023) (premio-2023-omamori-vitrina-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Before the large poster of the 林原美術館 (Hayashibara Bijutsukan), with his tantō; he says it moved him (22 November 2023) (premio-2023-omamori-cartel-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The NBTHK letters of 2024: 努力賞一席 (Doryokushō isseki) for tachi and katana and 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) for tantō; after years of special prizes, a “normal” result, he writes (19 April 2024) (premio-2024-cartas-nbthk-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His tantō of the 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) of 2024, 25.2 cm, in the manner of the 五虎退 (Gokotai) of 粟田口藤四郎吉光 (Awataguchi Tōshirō Yoshimitsu), according to its card (9 August 2024) (premio-2024-tanto-ficha-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The NBTHK letters of 2025: 高松宮記念賞 (Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō) for tachi and katana and 薫山賞 (Kunzanshō) for tantō, two special prizes at once (17 April 2025) (premio-2025-cartas-nbthk-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The room prepared for the appreciation of modern swords in the garden of Kokura Castle (21 July 2025) (exposicion-2025-kokura-sala-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
With his two cups at the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) prize-giving of 2025, where he spoke on behalf of the prize-winners (1 August 2025) (premio-2025-copas-escenario-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The cup of the 高松宮記念賞 (Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō), in the hall of the prize-giving (1 August 2025) (premio-2025-copa-takamatsu-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
With his rival and friend 小宮 (Komiya), also with a special prize, at the 2025 prize-giving (1 August 2025) (premio-2025-copas-komiya-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A tantō at the 18th お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai), at Sakaki, where he received in the 刀身の部 (tōshin no bu) the 坂城町長賞 (Sakaki Chōchō-shō), 特賞二席 (tokushō niseki) (6 September 2025) (premio-2025-omamori-tanto-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The 感謝状 (kanshajō, letter of thanks), dated 14 January 2026, given to him in person by the 警視総監 (Keishi Sōkan), head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, together with the medal he presented to him; it cites the tantō he forged to honour its staff (19 January 2026) (premio-2026-kanshajo-policia-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A tantō at the 19th お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai), at the 備前長船刀剣博物館 (Bizen Osafune Tōken Hakubutsukan), where he went for the prize-giving (3 October 2026) (premio-2026-omamori-tanto-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
He prepares the nakago of another tachi that the polisher has returned to him (7 December 2017) (forja-2017-tachi-nakago-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A block of red-hot steel; he works at a rapid pace on the eve of an appreciation of modern swords (25 January 2019) (forja-2019-bloque-al-rojo-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
More red-hot steel on the anvil, the same day (25 January 2019) (forja-2019-bloques-yunque-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The 素延べ (sunobe) of a tachi in mid-Kamakura style, before forging its shape (31 May 2019) (forja-2019-tachi-sunobe-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Two rough blades, once again utsushi of the Sanchōmō and of the へし切長谷部 (Heshikiri Hasebe) (29 June 2019) (forja-2019-sanchomo-hasebe-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A rough blade: with covid, commissions fell, and he takes the chance to try different works (30 April 2020) (forja-2020-hoja-yunque-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The sunobe of a tachi; he writes that he might try a Sanchōmō (30 June 2020) (forja-2020-tachi-sunobe-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A small blade with the hamon the client asked for and the finished nakago, ready for the polisher (13 July 2020) (forja-2020-hoja-nakago-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The sunobe of a tachi for the following year’s competition (28 September 2020) (forja-2020-tachi-concurso-sunobe-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The sunobe of the 3 shaku ōdachi (about 91 cm) finished; the next day he starts forging its shape (2 February 2021) (forja-2021-odachi-sunobe-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Two blades filed into shape (edge, back and shinogi), ready for hardening (6 February 2021) (forja-2021-hojas-banco-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A day of hardening: he prepared two tachi and a tantō with clay and hardened them, and all three failed (7 April 2021) (forja-2021-temple-fallido-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The sunobe of an ōdachi of more than 3 shaku (4 October 2021) (forja-2021-odachi-barra-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The two bars, numbered, after the rough drawing out; now comes the sunobe of the ōdachi (27 October 2021) (forja-2021-odachi-barras-numeradas-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The two bars of the ōdachi, after a whole day’s work (29 October 2021) (forja-2021-odachi-taller-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
An ōdachi blade already forged: it came out at more than 3 shaku 5 sun (about 106 cm), 1.5 sun more than planned (30 October 2021) (forja-2021-odachi-curva-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The other ōdachi blade forged as well (1 November 2021) (forja-2021-odachi-hizukuri-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
An ōdachi of 3 shaku 3 sun (about 100 cm) freshly hardened; by the fourth blade he already has the process mastered, he writes (6 November 2021) (forja-2021-odachi-temple-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Four forged blades, before preparing them for hardening (4 September 2023) (forja-2023-hojas-yunque-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The 15 kg of tamahagane he received as an additional prize; he may let a younger apprentice of his master, 弟弟子 (otōto-deshi), practise with it before his forging exam (8 September 2020) (forja-2020-tamahagane-bolsa-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The materials store, newly built, withstood the earthquake of the day before; it will now be able to hold 100 t of satetsu (22 January 2022) (forja-2022-almacen-bloques-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The tamahagane of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) prize: 110 kg (27 October 2022) (forja-2022-tamahagane-cajas-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The fire of the hearth on a slightly chilly day, good for working with fire, he writes (25 April 2023) (forja-2023-fragua-llamas-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The prize tamahagane arrives: 110 kg, the same as he weighs, he writes (6 August 2023) (forja-2023-tamahagane-cajas-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The amulet of the 初打ち (hatsu-uchi), the first strike of the year, every 2 January (2 January 2024) (forja-2024-hatsuuchi-amuleto-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The small talisman sword he forges at the hatsu-uchi of every 2 January (2 January 2026) (forja-2026-hatsuuchi-yunque-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The amulet of the hatsu-uchi, hung in the workshop (2 January 2026) (forja-2026-hatsuuchi-amuleto-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The hearth in high summer: “doesn’t the summer ever end?”, he writes (22 July 2026) (forja-2026-fragua-verano-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His master hardens a naginata of 3 shaku (about 91 cm): “at 75 years old, what energy!”, he writes (7 April 2026) (forja-2026-maestro-temple-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
His master, with the red-hot blade over the hardening tank (7 April 2026) (forja-2026-maestro-tanque-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
“We are fine, but the house and the workshop have been left wrecked”, he writes on the day of the earthquake (28 July 2026) (terremoto-2026-taller-derrumbado-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A provisional hearth finished: the hood will be sheet metal, but for now it is refractory board; two others remain to be rebuilt (19 August 2026) (terremoto-2026-fragua-provisional-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A hearth propped up with battens and wire: it is only a matter of time before it collapses, he writes, but this way it will hold for a while (25 August 2026) (terremoto-2026-fragua-apuntalada-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
He dismantles the old hearth before it comes down: it was built when he was in his second year at 高校 (kōkō), Japanese senior high school, some 30 years ago (4 September 2026) (terremoto-2026-fragua-vieja-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The old hearth, half dismantled (4 September 2026) (terremoto-2026-fragua-vieja-desmontada-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The new hearth, under construction (8 September 2026) (terremoto-2026-fragua-nueva-obras-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Swords in their bags, on a day of caring for them; to an appreciation of modern swords he will take his utsushi of the 山鳥毛 (Sanchōmō), the 岡田切 (Okada-giri), the 鯰尾藤四郎 (Namazuo Tōshirō) and the 五虎退 (Gokotai), which he shows only at exhibitions and competitions (30 October 2022) (otros-2022-fundas-utsushi-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
Engraved plates, with the announcement of his yearly draw for the 日本刀の日 (Nihontō no hi, Japanese Sword Day): fifteen plates with one or two characters chosen by those who take part (1 October 2023) (otros-2023-placas-meikiri-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
The plates of the 日本刀の日 (Nihontō no hi) draw, now engraved, ready to send (5 October 2024) (otros-2024-placas-meikiri-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.
A tsuba by the third 八代甚吾 (Yatsushiro Jingo), of Higo, which he has just acquired: he likes the vigour of its design, he writes (11 January 2026) (otros-2026-tsuba-jingo-x.jpg)
Photo: the smith himself.