Sources

Sources

Museums and heritage

1. ColBase: 短刀 銘相州住秋広 永和二 (tantō mei Sōshū-jū Akihiro Eiwa ni), Kyoto National Museum
2. ColBase: 短刀 銘 相州住秋広 応安三 (tantō mei Sōshū-jū Akihiro Ōan san), Tokyo National Museum
3. Bunka Isan Online: the 1376 tantō, Important Cultural Property
4. Bunka Isan Online: 刀 無銘伝秋広 (katana mumei den Akihiro)

NBTHK

1. NBTHK, Sword Journal no. 829 (February 2026), English translation: Hiromitsu and the commentary on the two
2. NBTHK, Sword Journal no. 830 (March 2026), English translation: Akihiro’s wakizashi of 1398

   The translation writes “Akimitsu” where the text speaks of Akihiro.

References

1. Kotobank: 秋広 (Akihiro), in the Heibonsha encyclopaedia
2. Japanese Wikipedia: 刀工 (tōkō)
3. Markus Sesko, “Kantei 1: Sugata 4”

Image credits

1. The 1376 tantō (Eiwa 2), on the side with the engraved sword. (tanto-1376-omote.jpg)

   Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館, Kyōto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), via ColBase · Free use crediting ColBase.

2. The other side: the bonji and the two grooves (二筋樋, futasuji-hi). (tanto-1376-ura.jpg)

   Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館, Kyōto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), via ColBase · Free use crediting ColBase.

3. The tang, with the signature 相州住秋広 (Sōshū-jū Akihiro). (tanto-1376-nakago-firma.jpg)

   Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館, Kyōto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), via ColBase · Free use crediting ColBase.

4. The other side of the tang, with the date 永和二 (Eiwa ni): 1376. (tanto-1376-nakago-fecha.jpg)

   Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館, Kyōto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), via ColBase · Free use crediting ColBase.

5. The mounting of the tantō: a 金梨地 (kin-nashiji) lacquered scabbard with the paulownia crest. (tanto-1376-koshirae-1.jpg)

   Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館, Kyōto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), via ColBase · Free use crediting ColBase.

6. The mounting, on the other side. (tanto-1376-koshirae-2.jpg)

   Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館, Kyōto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan), via ColBase · Free use crediting ColBase.