Kantei
A tachi shown on both sides beside its brush-inscribed shirasaya, on a black background.

Swordsmith of Yamazoe (Nara) · Bizen-den

Kaneda Kunizane (金田國真)

A swordsmith from Yamazoe, in Nara, born in 1989, a pupil of Kawachi Kunihira and twice winner of the Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō: his life, his Bizen-den, his prizes and his videos

Born in 1989, a pupil of Kawachi Kunihira and twice winner of the Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō, in 2024 and 2026, with the Bizen chōji of the Kamakura period.

Photo: Kei Nakamura

1989
Born in Fukuoka
2008
Joins Kawachi Kunihira
2014
Licence
2024 and 2026
Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō (高松宮記念賞)
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Kaneda Kunizane (金田國真); in some lists, “Kaneta”. Since 2022 he has signed 金田清水國真 (Kaneda Shimizu Kunizane), and still does in 2026 HD
Birth
1989, in Fukuoka prefecture HD
Where he forges
Yamazoe (山添村, Yamazoe-mura), Nara prefecture: he signs 神野山人 (Kōnoyama-bito), “the man of Mount Kōno” HD
Master
Kawachi Kunihira (河内國平, Kawachi Kunihira), from 2008 HD
School
Bizen-den (備前伝, Bizen-den), in the manner of the Kamakura period HD
Licence
2014 HD
His highest prize
高松宮記念賞 (Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō), in 2024 and in 2026 HD

In short

Kaneda Kunizane was born in 1989 in Fukuoka, into a family with no connection to the sword. A book by Kawachi Kunihira made him decide to become a swordsmith; he entered his forge in 2008 and obtained his licence in 2014.

In the NBTHK competition, the 新作名刀展 (Shinsaku Meitōten) until 2017 and the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) since 2018, he has won a prize almost every year since 2017, and the highest ones: the Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō in 2024 and in 2026 and the NBTHK President’s Prize in 2025.

The sources do not agree on how long his apprenticeship lasted or on when he opened his Yamazoe forge, and they do not explain why from 2022 to 2024 he was listed under the civil surname Shimizu, or why since 2022 he has signed 金田清水國真 (Kaneda Shimizu Kunizane).

Both sides of a tachi with its gilt habaki, on a black background.
Tachi 光春 (Kōshun), 2021, fifth prize of excellence Photo: Kei Nakamura · © Kei Nakamura

Sections

  1. From Fukuoka to Yamazoe Life and forging The book that made up his mind, the apprenticeship with Kunihira, the licence and his Yamazoe forge, with what the sources leave unclear.
  2. Bizen-den · chōji · bōhi Work and style The Bizen-den of the Kamakura period, the tachi of the 2024 Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō as described by the NBTHK and the gallery of his works.
  3. Twice Takamatsu-no-miya Kinenshō Prizes His NBTHK record from 2015 to 2026, year by year, with what the catalogues confirm.
  4. Interview and a visit to the forge Videos Two videos: a long interview from 2021 and the visit to his forge by the Yamazoe tourism association.
  5. Bibliography Sources The NBTHK catalogues and journal, the other sources and the credit for each image.