Kantei
A red-hot block of steel on the anvil, in front of a person seated in the half-light of the forge.

Swordsmith of Tomioka (Gunma) · Kawachi Kunihira school

Ishida Kunihisa (石田國壽)

A swordsmith of Tomioka (Gunma), pupil of Kawachi Kunihira: his life, his work, his prizes and his videos

Ishida Kunihisa (石田國壽) has forged since 2002 in Tomioka (富岡, Tomioka), in Gunma prefecture. A pupil of Kawachi Kunihira (河内國平, Kawachi Kunihira) since 1995, he has worked with his school on the reproduction of the Mikazuki Munechika (三日月宗近, Mikazuki Munechika) and on the repair of a spear from the Uesugi shrine. The NBTHK chose him among the smiths of the 平成の名刀・名工展 (Heisei no Meitō Meikōten) of 2019 and of the 令和の名刀・名工展 (Reiwa no Meitō Meikōten) of 2022. This short monograph gathers what can be told about him and separates what is documented from what only he tells.

Photo: the smith himself

1977
Born in Tomioka (Gunma)
1995
Apprentice of Kawachi Kunihira, from
2002
His own forge in Tomioka
2019
His tantō at the NBTHK 平成の名刀・名工展 (Heisei no Meitō Meikōten)
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Swordsmith’s name
國壽 (Kunihisa), his signature HD
Birth
1977, in Tomioka (Gunma) AT
Where he forges
Tomioka (富岡市, Tomioka-shi), Gunma prefecture, since 2002: 國壽鍛刀場 (Kunihisa tantōjō) AT
School or tradition
The Kawachi Kunihira school (河内一門, Kawachi ichimon); he does not declare a tradition of his own AT
Licence
2001, from the Agency for Cultural Affairs (文化庁, Bunkachō) AT
Rank
Chosen smith (名工選, meikōsen) in 2019 and selected (入選, nyūsen) in 2022 at the NBTHK exhibitions; not listed as mukansa HD

In short

What we know. The NBTHK exhibited a tantō of his from 2018, 26.0 cm long and signed 國壽 (Kunihisa), at the 平成の名刀・名工展 (Heisei no Meitō Meikōten) of 2019, where he was one of the 32 smiths chosen (名工選, meikōsen) out of 41 who entered; in 2022 it selected him (入選, nyūsen) at the 令和の名刀・名工展 (Reiwa no Meitō Meikōten). He trained with Kawachi Kunihira from 1995, has held a licence since 2001 and has had his own forge in Tomioka since 2002.

How we know it. From the NBTHK catalogue and prize lists and from two videos, of 2020 and 2021, in which he speaks. His biography, his projects and his competition prizes are reported by him.

What we do not know. His prizes from 2001 to 2020 could not be checked against the official lists, which are not online. Nor is there a description of his style, his own or by critics, or an explanation of why he uses one name at the NBTHK and another when he presents himself.

Sections

  1. From the Kawachi school to Tomioka Life and forging The apprenticeship with Kawachi Kunihira, the Tomioka forge and the projects of his school, year by year.
  2. Tantō, wakizashi and katana Work and style The tantō in the NBTHK catalogue, the katana Suigetsumaru and his works in pictures.
  3. Two exhibitions verified Prizes What appears in the NBTHK lists and what he reports.
  4. In his own words Videos Two videos: his work and the hardening clay, explained by him.
  5. Bibliography Sources The sources consulted and the image credits.