On this page
- NBTHK: the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten)
- How to read them
- His record, on the official cards
- Zen Nihon Tōshōkai: the お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai)
- Prizes in pictures
- Competitions and exhibitions, in his own photos (2017–2023)
- Competitions and exhibitions, in his own photos (2023–2026)
- What has not been consulted
NBTHK: the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten)
The NBTHK new-work competition, which since 2018 has been called the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten). Only the prizes checked against the official list or catalogue, or against the official cards of his works:
| Year | Section | Prize | Work | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2017 (exhibited in 2018) | Tachi, katana… | 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) | Tachi of 80.3 cm | HD |
| Between 2009 and 2021; the year has not been found | Tachi, katana… | 薫山賞 (Kunzanshō) | Recorded on his cards of 2022, 2025 and 2026 | HD |
| 2019 | Tachi, katana… | He is on the list; the prize cannot be assigned with certainty | Tachi of 79.3 cm | PC |
| 2020 and 2021 | — | He exhibited his Sanchōmō; the prize has not been consulted | — | PC |
| 2022 | Tachi, katana… | 薫山賞 (Kunzanshō) | Katana of 74.9 cm | HD |
| 2022 | Tantō | 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) | Tantō of 29.3 cm | HD |
| 2023 | Tachi, katana… | 優秀賞 (Yūshūshō), fifth | Tachi of 79.8 cm | HD |
| 2023 | Tantō | 寒山賞 (Kanzanshō) | Tantō of 22.0 cm | HD |
| 2024 | Tachi, katana… | 努力賞一席 (Doryokushō isseki) | Tachi of 78.6 cm | HD |
| 2024 | Tantō | 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) | Tantō of 25.2 cm | HD |
| 2025 | Tachi, katana… | 高松宮記念賞 (Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō) | Katana of 69.8 cm, in the manner of the Suijingiri Kanemitsu | HD |
| 2025 | Tantō | 薫山賞 (Kunzanshō) | Tantō of 24.9 cm | HD |
| 2026 | Tachi, katana… | 努力賞四席 (Doryokushō yonseki) | Tachi of 79.5 cm | HD |
| 2026 | Tantō | 優秀賞一席 (Yūshūshō isseki) | — | HD |
How to read them II
- The documented special prizes are five: on the official lists, the Kunzanshō (薫山賞) of 2022, the Kanzanshō (寒山賞) of 2023, the Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō (高松宮記念賞) of 2025 and the tantō Kunzanshō of 2025; and another Kunzanshō in tachi or katana, before 2022, recorded on his cards.
- In 2025 he won a special prize in each section.
- He is among the best-placed smiths of the general section today, but he is not mukansa.
His record, on the official cards
The cards of his works at the exhibitions, which can be read in the videos, carry his NBTHK record in the section of the work: “努力賞以上 平成21年度〜昨年度” (doryokushō ijō, Heisei nijūichi-nendo kara sakunendo made: from the Doryokushō upwards, from the 2009 fiscal year to the previous one). They do not count the current year: the 2025 card does not include his Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō and the 2026 one does.
- Katana of 2022 (from 2009 to 2021): one Kunzanshō, two Yūshūshō and three Doryokushō, and the 新人賞 (Shinjinshō) of 2004.
- Tantō of 2023 (from 2013 to 2022, tantō only): one Yūshūshō and one Doryokushō.
- Tantō of 2024 (from 2009 to 2023): one Kanzanshō, one Yūshūshō and one Doryokushō.
- Katana of 2025 (from 2009 to 2024): two Kunzanshō, three Yūshūshō and four Doryokushō.
- Tantō of 2025 (from 2009 to 2024): one Kanzanshō, three Yūshūshō and three Doryokushō.
- Tachi of 2026 (from 2009 to 2025): one Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō, two Kunzanshō, three Yūshūshō and four Doryokushō.
The 2022 card already records a Kunzanshō before his one of that year, and those of 2025 and 2026 record two: there was another Kunzanshō in tachi or katana before 2022. Its year and its work have not been found: the official results from 2009 to 2016 and for 2020–2021 have not been consulted.
Zen Nihon Tōshōkai: the お守り刀展覧会 (Omamori-gatana Tenrankai)
The Zen Nihon Tōshōkai competition for protective swords, with its results on the association’s website:
| Year | Edition | Result | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5th | 佳作 (kasaku), as 木村兼光 (Kimura Kanemitsu) | HD |
| 2011 | 6th | 刀身の部 第8席 (tōshin no bu dai-hasseki) and 全日本刀匠会会長賞 (Zen Nihon Tōshōkai kaichō-shō) | HD |
| 2013 | 8th | 刀身の部 佳作 (tōshin no bu kasaku) | HD |
| 2015 | 10th | 刀身の部 三席 (tōshin no bu sanseki) | HD |
| 2016 | 11th | 刀身の部 九席 (tōshin no bu kyūseki) and テレビせとうち賞 (Terebi Setouchi-shō) | HD |
| 2017 | 12th | 総合の部 佳作 (sōgō no bu kasaku); 刀身の部 五席 (tōshin no bu goseki), 熊本放送賞 (Kumamoto Hōsō-shō); 外装の部 三席 (gaisō no bu sanseki), 島田美術館館長賞 (Shimada Bijutsukan kanchō-shō) | HD |
| 2018 | 13th | 刀身の部 佳作 (tōshin no bu kasaku) | HD |
| 2019 | 14th | 刀身の部 四席 (tōshin no bu yonseki) and 佐世保市教育委員会賞 (Sasebo-shi Kyōiku Iinkai-shō); sixth in the public vote | HD |
| 2021 | Special exhibition | 刀身の部 2席・特賞 (tōshin no bu niseki, tokushō) and 外装の部 1席・特賞 (gaisō no bu isseki, tokushō) | HD |
| 2021 | 15th | 刀身の部 第八席 (tōshin no bu dai-hasseki) | HD |
| 2023 | 16th | 総合の部 文部科学大臣賞 (sōgō no bu Monbu Kagaku Daijin-shō), the top prize; 刀身の部 四席 (tōshin no bu yonseki); 外装の部 二席・特賞 (gaisō no bu niseki, tokushō); first in the public vote | HD |
| 2025 | 18th | 刀身の部 二席・特賞 (tōshin no bu niseki, tokushō) and 坂城町長賞 (Sakaki Chōchō-shō) | HD |
| 2026 | 19th | 刀身の部 二席・特賞 (tōshin no bu niseki, tokushō), 坂城町長賞 (Sakaki Chōchō-shō) and 駐日ポーランド共和国大使賞 (Chūnichi Pōrando Kyōwakoku Taishi-shō) | HD |
Prizes in pictures
The card of the 2026 tachi: 高松宮記念賞 1 (Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō, once) in his record. NIHONTOU · © NIHONTOU · source 
The letter for the prize of the ambassador of Poland at the 19th Omamori-gatana (2026). Photo: the smith himself
Competitions and exhibitions, in his own photos (2017–2023)
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). 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). 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). 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). 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). Photo: the smith himself 
At the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) prize-giving of 2022, beside a display case (29 November 2022). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). Photo: the smith himself
Competitions and exhibitions, in his own photos (2023–2026)
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). 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). 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). 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). 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). Photo: the smith himself 
The room prepared for the appreciation of modern swords in the garden of Kokura Castle (21 July 2025). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). Photo: the smith himself
What has not been consulted PC
- The NBTHK results from 2004 to 2016 and for 2020–2021: they are not on the current website. Those for these years cited in “The smith” come from the chronology of a shop.
- The 2019 prize: the PDF does not allow it to be assigned.
- The 2026 catalogue, which is a PDF of images.