His competition katana
| Competition year | Signature | Date and series | Nagasa | Sori |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 豊後住 平清明作 (Bungo-jū Taira Kiyoaki saku) | New Year of Reiwa 3 (2021) | 70.6 cm | 2.1 cm |
| 2023 | 豊後國平清明鍛之 (Bungo no kuni Taira Kiyoaki kore o kitau) | 豊後抜刀会肆ノ鍛 (Bungo Battōkai shi no kitae), 令和肆年神無月 (Reiwa yonen kannazuki, October 2022) | 71.8 cm | 1.6 cm |
| 2024 | 清明 (Kiyoaki) | 豊後抜刀会六ノ鍛 (Bungo Battōkai roku no kitae), 令和五年五月 (Reiwa gonen gogatsu, May 2023) | 71.2 cm | 1.7 cm |
| 2025 | 豊後三佐住平清明作 (Bungo Misa-jū Taira Kiyoaki saku) | 豊後抜刀会五ノ鍛 (Bungo Battōkai go no kitae), 令和六年三月 (Reiwa rokunen sangatsu, March 2024) | 71.8 cm | 1.8 cm |
| 2026 | 豊後國平清明鍛之 (Bungo no kuni Taira Kiyoaki kore o kitau) | 豊後抜刀会八ノ鍛 (Bungo Battōkai hachi no kitae), 令和八年二月十九日 (Reiwa hachinen nigatsu jūkunichi, 19 February 2026) | 71.8 cm | 1.8 cm |
They are katana of ordinary length, from 70.6 to 71.8 cm, with a moderate curvature, from 1.6 to 2.1 cm. We do not know what the 豊後抜刀会 (Bungo Battōkai) that numbers several of them is, perhaps a cutting club.
The model he is after
In a talk in December 2024 he described the old sword of Bungo, of the Takada school: the centre of the curvature close to the tang, a lot of curvature, a slender and elegant tachi shape and a small, short point. It is the description of the old swords he wants to revive, not of his own.
How he forges
He works with tamahagane from Shimane while he develops his own with the sand of the Ōno river; he forges with his apprentices and with a power hammer, with about fifteen foldings.
Gallery
A katana of his: the blade, the signature 豊後國平清明鍛之 (Bungo no kuni Taira Kiyoaki kore o kitau) and the date 令和五年二月日 (Reiwa gonen nigatsu hi, February 2023). Photo: dealer in Japan 
Two blades of his on display, with their labels. Photo: dealer in Japan 
Working in the workshop, and its entrance. Photo: dealer in Japan 
The entrance of the 清明日本刀鍛錬場 (Seimei Nihontō Tanrenjō), with its shimenawa (注連縄, shimenawa). Photo: 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) · © 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) 
The lit forge, during the December 2024 visit. Photo: 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) · © 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) 
Work at the forge, amid sparks. Photo: 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) · © 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) 
The charcoal flame in the forge. Photo: 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) · © 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) 
Explaining the workshop to visitors. Photo: 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) · © 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) 
Bars and half-forged blades, shown to visitors. Photo: 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita) · © 高田びわのす通信 (Takata biwanosu tsūshin), neighbourhood newsletter of Takada (Ōita)
The grey-haired man in the neighbourhood newsletter’s photos is, by his resemblance to the man in the 2024 OBS news item, Taira Kiyoaki himself; the newsletter does not say so in every photo.