Kantei
An unmounted katana on a wooden stand inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Swordsmith of Gifu · NBTHK mukansa

Ogawa Kanekuni (尾川兼國)

The second Kanekuni of Mino, mukansa like his father and holder of an intangible cultural property of Gifu, who keeps up the tōran-ba and the Seki forging tradition: his life, his work, his prizes and his videos

Ogawa Kanekuni, who signs 兼國 (Kanekuni), is the second swordsmith of that name: son and pupil of the first, 兼圀 (Kanekuni), he forges in Yamagata (山県市, Yamagata-shi), in the old province of Mino. He won the Takamatsu-no-miya-shō in 2004, the NBTHK made him mukansa in 2009 and Gifu recognised him in 2023 for keeping up the tōran-ba and the Seki forging tradition. This short monograph tells what can be checked about him, with the level of evidence of each fact.

Photo: dealer in Japan

1953
Born
2004
Takamatsu-no-miya-shō (高松宮賞)
2009
NBTHK mukansa
2023
Intangible cultural property of Gifu
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Ogawa Kanekuni, the second HD
Kanji and reading
尾川兼國 (Ogawa Kanekuni) HD
Birth
1953 AT
Where he forges
Yamagata (山県市, Yamagata-shi), in Gifu Prefecture HD
Master
His father, the first Kanekuni (尾川兼圀, Ogawa Kanekuni) HD
School or tradition
That of Seki (関, Seki), in Mino; Sōshū-den and tōran-ba (濤瀾刃) HD
Licence
The year has not been found PC
Rank
NBTHK mukansa since December 2009 HD

In short

What we know. From 1996 to 2009 he won a prize almost every year in the NBTHK new-work competition, with the 2004 Takamatsu-no-miya-shō (高松宮賞) at the top, and in December 2009 he received the rank of mukansa, like his father. On 21 February 2023 Gifu Prefecture registered him as holder of the important intangible cultural property “Japanese sword” (日本刀, nihontō), for reproducing the tōran-ba and keeping up the Seki technique.

How we know it. From the profile of the Gifu NBTHK, which refers to the issues of 『刀剣美術』 (Tōken Bijutsu) where his prizes appeared, from the official gazette of Gifu Prefecture and from the catalogue of an NBTHK exhibition. His life before the prizes is told by third-party profiles.

What we do not know. The year of his licence, his prizes after 2009 and works of his in museums.

Sections

  1. Two Kanekuni Life and forging A late apprenticeship with his father, his posts in the Gifu NBTHK and in the swordsmiths’ association, and the recognition of the prefecture.
  2. Sōshū-den · tōran-ba Work and style His father’s tōran-ba, the models he pursues and a gallery of works.
  3. Fourteen years of competition Prizes His prizes in the NBTHK competition from 1996 to 2009, the 2004 Takamatsu-no-miya-shō and the rank of mukansa.
  4. Television and exhibitions Videos A documentary by Aichi television and an interview at an exhibition.
  5. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted and the credits for every image.