Kantei
Old black-and-white photo: two shots of a tang with an inscription and, on the right, a whole curved blade.

Swordsmith of Etchū · late Kamakura or Nanbokuchō

Gō Yoshihiro (江義弘)

A smith of Etchū, one of the three greats of the Kyōhō meibutsuchō, of whom not a single signed blade is known: his times, his work, his famous works and his sources

Gō Yoshihiro (江義弘 or 郷義弘, Gō Yoshihiro) lived at Matsukura-gō, in Etchū province. With Masamune and Awataguchi Yoshimitsu he is one of the three greats of the Kyōhō meibutsuchō, and two of his blades are National Treasures; but not one bearing his signature is known: everything of his is attribution.

Cultural Properties Association (文化財協会, Bunkazai Kyōkai), 1952, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

22
Pieces in the Kyōhō meibutsuchō (11 surviving and 11 burned)
2
National Treasures: the Inaba-gō and the Tomita-gō
None
Known blades bearing his own signature
27 years
Age at which he died, according to tradition
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Yoshihiro, called Gō AT
Kanji and reading
江義弘 (Gō Yoshihiro) or 郷義弘 (Gō Yoshihiro): the two “Gō” are read the same HD
Period
Kamakura and Nanbokuchō, 14th century, for the Tokyo National Museum. Nanbokuchō according to the Japanese Wikipedia; late Kamakura according to the Nihon Jinmei Daijiten and the Britannica. HD
Province
Etchū: Matsukura-gō, in the Niikawa district, today Uozu (Toyama prefecture) HD
School
Sōshū-den based HD
Master
Masamune or Etchū Norishige, according to tradition AT
Documented fact and tradition
Documented: the blades attributed to him, their designations and his place in the Kyōhō meibutsuchō. Tradition: his master, his death at 27 and his whole life. AT

In short

What we know. That the Edo period placed him among the three greats with Masamune and Yoshimitsu, that the Kyōhō meibutsuchō records twenty-two pieces of his and that two are National Treasures and several more Important Cultural Properties.

How we know it. All his blades are attributions, most of them by Hon'ami Kōtoku, Kōetsu and their house, inlaid in gold or written in red lacquer on the tang.

What we do not know. When exactly he lived, who his master was and how he signed, if he signed at all.

Sections

  1. Matsukura-gō · Masamune · the three greats Life and times His disputed period, his name, the tradition and the esteem in which the Edo period held him.
  2. Sōshū-den · bright steel · kinzōgan Work and style The kantei keys of the blades attributed to him and how they were signed for him.
  3. National Treasures · meibutsu · museums Famous works His twenty-two pieces in the Kyōhō meibutsuchō, his two National Treasures and his designated blades.
  4. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted on 4 October 2026, with their links, and the credit for each image.