Kantei
A long, curved katana, polished and without mounting, seen whole edge-on on a black background, with the engraved tang below.

Photo: dealer in Japan

Sōshū-den · Kiyomaro · Sadamune · Kaneuji

Work and style

The Sōshū tradition, with Kiyomaro, Sadamune and Kaneuji as models, in wide, thick blades; in his late work, a more active temper.

On this page
  1. Style
  2. His blades
  3. Two of his blades

Style

He focused on the Sōshū tradition (相州伝, Sōshū-den) and took Kiyomaro, Sadamune and Kaneuji as his models. In his late work the temper (焼刃, yakiba) is more active, and the steel more open and with more colour. His blades are described as wide and thick, with a refined steel and temper.

His blades

  • February 1977. Katana signed 信濃國住宮入清平作 (Shinano no Kuni-jū Miyairi Kiyohira saku) and dated 昭和五十二年二月吉日 (Shōwa gojūni-nen nigatsu kichijitsu). It measures 79 cm.
  • A tantō signed 源清宗 (Minamoto Kiyomune), with grooves along the back on both sides. With that signature it is work from 1989 or later.
  • A tantō in 冠落造 (kanmuri-otoshi-zukuri) signed 宮入清平作 (Miyairi Kiyohira saku).
  • Sacred swords for the Ise shrine, in 1962 and in 1985. They are on record neither at the shrine’s museum nor in the town of Sakaki’s page.