Kantei
A young Westerner in a blue samue, kneeling and smiling in a forge, with a blade resting on the anvil.

Photo: dealer in Japan

Bibliography and credits

Sources

The sources consulted on 4 October 2026 and the credits for every image. Only sources that do not sell swords are linked; the others are cited by name or not named.

On this page
  1. Sources

Sources

NBTHK

  1. NBTHK, 『刀剣美術』 (Tōken Bijutsu) no. 725 (June 2017): report on the 2017 competition and the words of the prizewinners, among them those of Kubo Yoshihiro
  2. NBTHK, catalogue of the exhibition 平成の名刀・名工展 (Heisei no Meitō Meikōten), 2019
  3. NBTHK, catalogue of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2021
  4. NBTHK, catalogue of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2024
  5. NBTHK, catalogue of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2025
  6. NBTHK, list of works of the 現代刀職展 (Gendai Tōshokuten) 2026, in English (List of Works, Contemporary Swords and Artworks)

Encyclopaedias, administration and exhibitions

  1. 久保善博 (Kubo Yoshihiro), Japanese Wikipedia
  2. City of Shōbara, 『広報しょうばら』 (Kōhō Shōbara), April 2011: the citizens’ award of honour and his career, with the prizes for his first work in 1994
  3. 頼山陽史跡資料館 (Rai San'yō Shiseki Shiryōkan), poster and leaflet of the exhibition 「名刀に挑む！刀匠久保善博の世界」 (Meitō ni idomu! Tōshō Kubo Yoshihiro no sekai), 2024
  4. 全日本刀匠会 (Zen Nihon Tōshōkai), page of the 2024 exhibition

Videos

  1. 瀬戸内市 (Setouchi-shi), “Daihannya Nagamitsu no saigen”, vol. 1 (2021)
  2. 瀬戸内市 (Setouchi-shi), “Daihannya Nagamitsu no saigen”, vol. 2 (2021)
  3. 広島ホームテレビ (Hiroshima Hōmu Terebi), report on his Swiss apprentice (2024)

Image credits

  1. Poster of the 2024 exhibition (cartel-exposicion-2024.jpg)

    頼山陽史跡資料館 (Rai San'yō Shiseki Shiryōkan). © 頼山陽史跡資料館 (Rai San'yō Shiseki Shiryōkan).
  2. Inside of the leaflet of the 2024 exhibition (folleto-exposicion-2024.jpg)

    頼山陽史跡資料館 (Rai San'yō Shiseki Shiryōkan). © 頼山陽史跡資料館 (Rai San'yō Shiseki Shiryōkan).
  3. Kubo at the forge (Setouchi, 2021) (video-qkyTr25rQSA.jpg)

    Still from the video, © 瀬戸内市 (Setouchi-shi).
  4. The tsuchioki (Setouchi, 2021) (video-Bzl6eiTR_xg.jpg)

    Still from the video, © 瀬戸内市 (Setouchi-shi).
  5. His Swiss apprentice (Hiroshima Home TV, 2024) (video-6qSrpSrE1jk.jpg)

    Still from the video, © 広島ホームテレビ (Hiroshima Hōmu Terebi).
  6. Johann at the Shōbara forge (aprendiz-forja-shobara.jpg)

    Photo: dealer in Japan.
  7. Johann checks a blade (aprendiz-hoja-shobara.jpg)

    Photo: dealer in Japan.