Kagemitsu
景光 (Kagemitsu)
An Osafune smith in Bizen of the late Kamakura period and, according to the genealogies, son of Nagamitsu and father of Kanemitsu; known for a very fine jigane, and credited with the katai-ochi gunome.
Profile
Kagemitsu, called Sahyōe-no-jō, headed the Osafune school after Mitsutada and Nagamitsu; his dated blades run from 1306 to 1334. He made tachi of calm shape, with funbari and high koshizori, and many tantō, rare in his father's work. His dense ko-itame with clear midare-utsuri is held the finest jigane of Osafune, and his temper is more restrained than his elders': suguha with ko-chōji, ko-gunome and the katai-ochi gunome, a slanting gunome credited to him.
Monograph
Kagemitsu (景光)
Three National Treasures and blades dated from 1306 to 1334: his quick profile and the essentials.
Read the monograph
Notable works
- Koryū Kagemitsu: tachi of 1322 carved with a dragon, national treasure, Tokyo National Museum.
- Kenshin Kagemitsu: tantō of 1323, national treasure, Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore; Uesugi Kenshin kept it always at hand.