Kantei
A short-haired man in a black jumper speaks with his hands outstretched, seated at a table.

Swordsmith of Misato (Saitama) · Sōshū-den

Kawasaki Akihira (川﨑晶平)

A swordsmith from Misato (Saitama), a pupil of Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira, who seeks the beauty of the Sōshū-den: his life, his work, his prizes and his videos

Kawasaki Akihira (川﨑晶平) was born in Ōita in 1968, studied at Meiji University and left an office job to become a swordsmith under Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira (宮入小左衛門行平). Since 2003 he has forged in his own workshop in Misato, in Saitama prefecture, in the Sōshū tradition. In 2019 he won the special encouragement prize at the Heisei no Meitō Meikōten, and in 2022 third place at the Reiwa no Meitō Meikōten.

Photo: Forbes JAPAN

1968
Born in Ōita
2003
Opens his workshop in Misato (Saitama)
2019
Special encouragement prize, Heisei no Meitō Meikōten
2022
Third place, Reiwa no Meitō Meikōten
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Kawasaki Akihira HD
Kanji and reading
川﨑晶平 (Kawasaki Akihira), also written 川崎晶平 (Kawasaki Akihira); signs 晶平 (Akihira) HD
Birth
1968, in the city of Ōita AT
Where he forges
Misato, in Saitama prefecture: the 晶平鍛刀道場 (Akihira Tantō Dōjō), since 2003 AT
Master
Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira (宮入小左衛門行平), since 1994 AT
School or tradition
Miyairi school; Sōshū-den AT
Licence
1999, from the Agency for Cultural Affairs AT
Rank
Not on record as an NBTHK mukansa; special encouragement prize (特別奨励賞, tokubetsu shōreishō) in 2019 and third place in 2022 at its exhibitions HD

In short

  • At the 2019 Heisei no Meitō Meikōten, a 2014 katana of his, 76.7 cm long, won the special encouragement prize (特別奨励賞, tokubetsu shōreishō).
  • At the 2022 Reiwa no Meitō Meikōten he came third (入賞三席, nyūshō sanseki) in the forging division.
  • He is a director of the Zen Nihon Tōshōkai (全日本刀匠会, Zen Nihon Tōshōkai) and chairs its Kantō branch.
  • He forged the “Counter Sword” for the exhibition “Evangelion and the Japanese sword” (2012) and the guardian sword that the ambassador of Poland received in 2016.

Sections

  1. From university to the forge Life and forging From Ōita to Meiji University, his years with Miyairi Kozaemon Yukihira and his Misato workshop.
  2. Sōshū-den · nie Work and style What he is after in a blade, the steel he works with and his best-known works.
  3. From 1999 to 2022 Prizes His prizes, from the new-sword exhibitions to the Reiwa no Meitō Meikōten.
  4. Interviews and reports Videos Six videos: interviews, a press report and the presentation by Saitama prefecture.
  5. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted on 4 October 2026 and the credit of each image.