A Nidai ‘Naka-Kawachi’ Kunisuke Katana (河内守藤原国助)

Born Kobayashi Hachirô’emon, the second generation swordsmith Kawachi Kunisuke was the biological son of shodai Kunisuke and one of the most talented smiths of his era. Known as Naka-Kawachi (middle Kawachi), he first signed as Kunitora before adopting the Kunisuke name, and went on to enjoy a celebrated career of over five decades. He would master both the Ko-Bizen and Ishido school styles, earning him the nickname Shintô Ichimonji. He died in August 1698 in Settsu province, modern-day Ôsaka.

The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate dates this katana to the Shôhô era (1644-1648), making it one of Kunisuke’s very earliest works – collectible for that reason alone. The blade carries two long bô-hi(grooves) that further lighten its presence. The hamon is based on suguha with a finely tuned wave, filled with shining ji-nie and hataraki including sunagashi and kinsuji ripping through the temper line. This hamon pattern was characteristic of Kunisuke’s younger years. The large, thickly chiselled strokes of the nakago signature show remarkable confidence for such an early work. Gorgeous dark lines of chikei animate the steel throughout, and the bôshi sweeps with dramatic hakikake. There is a certain calm quality to this blade that rewards time and attention.

The formal uchigatana black-lacquered Edo-period koshirae is a piece of considerable interest in its own right. The fuchi-kashira, attributed to Kaga Kuwamura Katsuhisa (mid-Edo period, 1700s), carries depictions of samurai armour in gold relief. The playful menuki tell a Buddhist story: the thieving demon Shôshitsuki fleeing with the remains of Lord Buddha, pursued at full speed by the guardian deity Idaten – a motif that gave rise to the expression Idaten run. The koshirae also mounts a remarkable tsuba from the Owari school, dating to the early Edo period (early 1600s). This tsuba was featured in the June 2024 NTHK-NPO magazine, and a copy of the article will be presented to the new owner.