Kantei
Old sepia photograph of the base of a blade with carved grooves and the tang with an inscription and two holes.

Tokyo Imperial Museum, 1938, National Diet Library, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

National Treasure · Important Cultural Property

Famous works

The named works of the Hōshō school are by Sadayoshi and by Sadaoki. None by Sadamune has been located.

On this page
  1. By Sadamune
  2. From the school
  3. Gallery

By Sadamune

In the cultural properties database of the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka Isan Online) no work by Sadamune is recorded as designated a National Treasure or an Important Cultural Property: those that appear under the name Sadamune are by the Sadamune of Sōshū. Nor is he recorded in the Kyōhō meibutsuchō (享保名物帳) or in the wazamono lists.

From the school

WorkSwordsmithRankDetails
Tantō 大保昌 (Ōhōshō)SadayoshiImportant Cultural PropertyTokyo National Museum (F-20112); 28.3 cm, dated 1317, the 1st year of Bunpō; from the Maeda of Kaga
Tantō 桑山保昌 (Kuwayama Hōshō)SadayoshiNational Treasure; meibutsuPrivate collection, in 1938 at the Tokyo Imperial Museum; dated 1324, the 4th year of Genkō
Tachi signed 貞興 (Sadaoki)Sadaoki, his son according to the MeikanTokubetsu Jūyō TōkenShortened; shinogi-zukuri, masame, chū-suguha, bōshi komaru and yakizume; exhibited by the NBTHK until 22 December 2021

In 2021 the NBTHK knew of only three signed tachi of the school: one by Tadatsugu, an Important Cultural Property; one by Sadayoshi, an Important Art Object, of the 3rd year of Karyaku (1328); and the one by Sadaoki.

Old sepia photograph of a short blade with carved grooves, on a dark background.
The tantō 桑山保昌 (Kuwayama Hōshō), by Sadayoshi, in a 1938 photo: one side. Tokyo Imperial Museum, 1938, National Diet Library, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · source