A Kaneyasu Ô-Wakizashi (陸奥守包保)

Shodai Mutsu no Kami Kaneyasu is one of the more characterful smiths of the early Edo period – a left-handed craftsman who chiselled his mei in mirror image, earning the nickname Hidari-Mutsu (‘lefty’ Kaneyasu). He first trained in the Yamato-Tegai tradition before relocating from Yamato (Nara) to Ôsaka in Settsu province, and it is that older Yamato quality that gives his blades a presence beyond their years. Dated signatures confirm activity from the 6th year of Kan’ei (1629) through the 2nd year of Jôô (1653), placing this ô-wakizashi squarely in the heart of his productive years.

The blade carries a rolling gunome-midare hamon alive with brushed streams of sunagashi and flowing kinsuji – a combination that brings to mind the wave patterns of Sukehiro’s celebrated tôran-midare. Fine ko-ashi and sharply peaked tôgari punctuate the activity throughout. The jihada is a mixture of mokume and masame with scattered chikei, and some hada-ware openings can be observed – a feature that, far from diminishing the sword, lends it an honest antiquity consistent with its Yamato heritage. The nakago is ubu with gyaku-sujikai-yasurime, and a bo-hiwith kaki-nagashi runs on both omote and ura.

The Edo koshirae follows a deeply considered nature theme. The saya is lacquered in a rich brown finish imitating the bark of a sakura tree – a quietly brilliant piece of craft. The iron tsuba, attributed to the Kugimoto School of Hizen province and NTHK-NPO certified, depicts the concept of satoyama – the harmonious relationship between villages and the mountains that sustain them. Menuki on the black-wrapped tsuka feature utensils of the Japanese tea ceremony, while the fuchi-kashira portray sparrows and naruko clappers in a scene drawn from the Yosakoi Festival tradition of Kochi. A sword with a complete and cohesive story.