Kantei
Above, a light wooden scabbard; below, a katana seen whole on both sides, two details of the tang with engraved characters and four views of the collar.

Swordsmith of Buzen (Fukuoka) · Gassan · Kotetsu

Kawano Sadamitsu (河野貞光)

A swordsmith of Buzen (Fukuoka), son of the swordsmith Kunimitsu and pupil of the Living National Treasure Gassan Sadakazu, who was called “Ima Kotetsu” for the cutting of his blades: his life, his work and his sources

Kawano Sadamitsu (河野貞光, Kawano Sadamitsu) forged in Fukuoka Prefecture, in the old province of Buzen. He learned from his father, the swordsmith Kunimitsu, and from 1975 from the Living National Treasure 月山貞一 (Gassan Sadakazu), who gave him the character 貞 (sada) of his name. For the cutting of his blades he was called 今虎徹 (Ima Kotetsu, “the Kotetsu of today”). He has died, on a date that is not known. Almost everything known about him is told by sources that cannot be linked, and so it is marked as attribution.

Photo: dealer in Japan

1950
Born
1975
Joins Gassan Sadakazu
今虎徹 (Ima Kotetsu)
Nickname
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Kawano Sadamitsu; his surname is also read Kōno (こうの, Kōno); signed 豊前住河野貞光 (Buzen-jū Kōno Sadamitsu) AT
Kanji and reading
河野貞光 (Kawano Sadamitsu or Kōno Sadamitsu) AT
Birth and death
1950 (Shōwa 25); he has died, on a date that is not known AT
Where he forged
Shimohonjō, in Saikawa-machi (today Miyako-machi), Fukuoka Prefecture, in the old province of Buzen (豊前, Buzen) AT
Masters
His father, the swordsmith 國光 (Kunimitsu); from 1975, the Living National Treasure 月山貞一 (Gassan Sadakazu) AT
School or tradition
The Gassan school, with forging and engraving; copies of 虎徹 (Kotetsu) AT
Licence
The year is not on record PC
Rank
Several 努力賞 (Doryokushō) at the 新作名刀展 (Shinsaku Meitōten), without years; not on record as a mukansa AT

In short

What we know. Son and pupil of a swordsmith of Buzen, in 1975 he joined Gassan Sadakazu to learn forging and engraving, and from then on he signed 貞光 (Sadamitsu). He engraved his own blades, made copies of Kotetsu, and his fame was their cutting.

How we know it. From the descriptions of his blades and from the videos of cutting tests with his “Ishidanmaru”, which cannot be linked. The signatures of the 1995 katana can be read in the photos of its tang.

What we do not know. The date of his death, the year of his licence and the years of his prizes. There is no portrait of him with a caption that identifies him.

Sections

  1. Kunimitsu · Gassan Sadakazu · Buzen Life and forging His father, his master, the name he received and what is on record of his competitions.
  2. Copies of Kotetsu · his own horimono Work and style His copies of Kotetsu, the “Ishidanmaru” and three dated katana, one of them in photos.
  3. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted on 4 October 2026 and the credit for each image.